2026 Real Focus Winners

Celebrating the Winners

Groundbreaking. Trailblazing. First-of-its-kind.

The inaugural Real Focus: Underwater Photography Shootout 2026 was created to bridge the worlds of underwater photography, science and ethics through a shared passion for the ocean. More than a competition, it was an opportunity to challenge conventional approaches, celebrate authentic wildlife encounters, and inspire a deeper respect for the marine environment.

Over the course of the event, participants embraced our theme, Break the Habit, moving beyond simply capturing images to create genuine stories that reflected patience, creativity and ethical interaction with marine life. The standard of entries received from both Solitude Acacia Resort in Anilao, Philippines, and Solitude Lembeh Resort in Indonesia was nothing short of exceptional. Our judges were impressed not only by the technical excellence displayed but also by the thoughtful, ethical and deeply personal approaches evident throughout the competition.

Our congratulations go to every single participant. This incredible event would not have been possible without an immense collective effort:

• The Photographers – who poured their passion, patience and creativity into bringing out the very best in their subjects.
• The Judges – who faced the unenviable task of selecting the winners from an outstanding field of entries.
• The Rangers and Marine Biologists – who dedicated countless hours to observation and carefully ensured that every submission adhered to our strict ethical standards.
• The Tireless Dive Guides – whose remarkable spotting skills led photographers to some truly extraordinary encounters.
• Our Generous Sponsors – who provided an incredible array of prizes and support for this inaugural event.
• The Behind-the-Scenes Team – whose dedication and hard work ensured the competition ran seamlessly from beginning to end.

Most importantly, together we achieved our core mission: to raise awareness for our fragile underwater world and demonstrate that extraordinary underwater photography can be created while showing complete respect for marine life and its habitats.

To every participant who joined us on this journey, thank you. Your images remind us that underwater photography has the power not only to inspire wonder, but also to foster deeper connections with our oceans and strengthen our collective commitment to protecting them.

Congratulations to all of our winners, finalists and participants. We are proud to share these remarkable images and the photographers’ own reflections on the encounters, choices and techniques that shaped them.

And the Winners Are…

The Categories

Best of Show

Awarded to the single image that most powerfully embodies the spirit of Real Focus, the Best of Show recognises outstanding creativity, technical excellence, visual impact and, above all, a deep respect for the underwater world.

From the Photographer

I captured this image on my first blackwater dive in Anilao, Philippines. I saw salps floating past and moved closer to investigate, where I found two juvenile jacks inside. On closer inspection, I also noticed a male argonaut and several small crustaceans on the outside.

I used two strobes, positioning one behind the salps to reduce backscatter and reveal more detail.

Judge’s Insight

Macro Traditional

Celebrating the classic beauty of underwater macro photography, this category recognises images that reveal the intricate details, textures and behaviours of marine life while remaining true to authentic underwater encounters.

First Place

From the Photographer

This photograph was captured at Kirby’s Rock in Anilao, Philippines. I was engrossed in the beauty and biodiversity of the dive site. One of the guides called us over to a small patch of algae and pointed out a hairy algae shrimp.

I took several photographs using a Nauticam SMC-1, but it was difficult to isolate the subject from the background until I used snoot lighting.

Judge’s Insight

Second Place

From the Photographer

Serenity

Experimenting with a wide aperture for the first time was a challenge. I had to find the right shutter speed, strobe settings and ISO to work with it, while ensuring I did not disturb the animal in its natural habitat.

I was captivated by this bright yellow thorny seahorse (Hippocampus histrix), only 2.5 inches long. Its dreamy gaze, graceful movement and gentle feeding as it travelled from one piece of algae to another, pausing in between, were truly mesmerising.

Watching it curl its delicate tail and float effortlessly through the water, I was hypnotised by the harmony it displayed with the underwater world around it.

Capturing this moment filled me with awe and gratitude. Every time I look at the photograph, it brings a big smile to my face, reminding me of the ease and joy we can feel when we are in sync with our environment.

Judge’s Insight

Skilful presentation of a beautiful subject. The precise use of a shallow depth of field elegantly blurs a cluttered background, giving the entire image a wonderfully dreamy quality.

– Dr Alex Tattersall

Third Place

From the Photographer

Judge’s Insight

Creative lighting and  angle set this nudibranch shot apart from the rest. The contrast between the white accents of the gills and the fiery, lava-like background adds a subtle but incredibly effective depth to the frame.

– Dr Alex Tattersall

Macro Creative

This category celebrates creativity achieved entirely in-camera, rewarding photographers who push artistic boundaries through innovative techniques, unique perspectives and imaginative compositions captured underwater.

First Place

From the Photographer

Photographing three white, fast-moving ghost pipefish was exceptionally challenging. Their delicate bodies blended perfectly with the surrounding environment, while their constant movement made precise composition and focus extremely difficult.

To separate them from the background, I positioned a strobe behind the subjects to create a subtle red, atmospheric glow. At the same time, I illuminated the fish from the front with a snooted strobe, carefully preserving their natural white colouration while directing attention towards them.

Balancing the two lighting techniques required patience, precision and many attempts before I achieved the final image.

Judge’s Insight

Second Place

From the Photographer

The blue ribbon eel is a fascinating animal that displays different colours depending on its age and sex. It never seems to stay still, and focusing on its eyes is always a challenge.

Its movements resemble a flowing dance, so I decided to use the tube technique to echo that movement in flowing colour.

Judge’s Insight

An excellent use of creative framing and kinetic, swirling effects around the blue ribbon eel. This composition moves away from standard documentation, offering instead a deeply striking, abstract interpretation of the subject.

– Lilian Koh

Third Place

From the Photographer

Photographing this perfectly positioned yellow leaf fish was a rewarding experience. The fish remained motionless, allowing me to compose the image carefully while including enough of its surroundings to show its natural habitat.

To create depth and atmosphere, I used a strobe fitted with a blue filter as a backlight, producing a subtle glow that separated the subject from the background. A second strobe fitted with a snoot illuminated the leaf fish from the front, preserving its vivid natural yellow colouration while drawing attention to its remarkable shape and texture.

Combining the two lighting techniques created a balanced and striking portrait.

Judge’s Insight

This shot beautifully captures the intricate textures and form of the leaf fish. The masterful depth of field and the subtle, seamless blend of the coloured backlighting work in perfect harmony to elevate the entire composition.

– Lilian Koh

Blackwater

Dedicated to the mysterious world of the open ocean at night, this category showcases rare, delicate and often otherworldly pelagic species encountered during blackwater dives.

First Place

From the Photographer

This image was captured in Anilao, Philippines. That night, only my guide and I went out for the blackwater dive. We had not had a very productive dive when he urgently called me over after spotting a juvenile jack with a jellyfish.

Since it was only the two of us, I was able to capture several images of this behaviour.

Judge’s Insight

Second Place

From the Photographer

This larval wonderpus was photographed in Anilao, Philippines. That night, as on many others, only my guide and I went out for the blackwater dive.

My guide spotted the wonderpus, and I watched the octopus spread its arms and adopt one of its distinctive poses as I captured this image.

Judge’s Insight

This is a masterful execution of a classic blackwater challenge. Only with deliberate lighting and precise exposure control can a photographer reveal the intricate internal details of a subject as delicate and translucent as this wonderpus larva.

– Ram Yoro

Third Place

From the Photographer

This juvenile soapfish was found at the very end of one of our blackwater dives. We had already completed our safety stop and were on our way to the surface when we spotted it at the top of the light chain.

It kept moving, with the beautiful long filaments from its dorsal fin trailing behind it. I managed to capture several images before we surfaced.

Judge’s Insight

An outstanding shot that highlights the natural elegance of the soapfish larva! Capturing it in a flawless pose and executing brilliant portrait lighting requires impeccable timing and skilful exposure control.

– Ram Yoro

Compact/Point & Shoot

Open exclusively to compact camera systems, this category celebrates photographers who demonstrate exceptional creativity, storytelling and technical skill while making the most of compact equipment.

First Place

From the Photographer

Photographing a redhead coral goby living deep inside branching staghorn coral was exceptionally demanding. The dense branches constantly blocked both my view and the light, making precise composition and illumination difficult.

I used two strobes to light the tiny fish carefully from different angles while avoiding the harsh shadows created by the coral structure. Fortunately, the goby repeatedly returned to the same spot to guard its nest, allowing me several attempts to capture the image.

Only after reviewing the photograph did I discover the tiny eggs above the fish, revealing what was happening in this intimate moment.

Judge’s Insight

Second Place

From the Photographer

“So, I’m chilling on my red sponge in Lembeh when this diver glides in. He manoeuvres his TG-6 rig right up to my face and starts dialling in his strobes.

I can see him angling the lights and stopping down to kill the ambient exposure for a pitch-black background. Boom! He completely nails the strobe positioning, making my translucent red pop without blowing out the sponge’s highlights.

Meanwhile, I’m left looking wide-eyed and terrified! Next time, I’m charging modelling fees for this paparazzi abuse.”

Judge’s Insight

Masterfully composed with striking, sharp detail on the eyes that instantly grabs the audience. The balance of colour and lighting demonstrates strong technical control and understanding of the craft. Outstanding work.

– Imran Ahmad

Third Place

From the Photographer

I took this photograph on my 18th dive, during my Advanced Open Water course, when I was just beginning to learn underwater photography. I only discovered then that REAL FOCUS was open, and the Solitude Acacia team encouraged me to enter despite my protests that I was far too new.

Eventually, I thought: I have nothing to lose. Perhaps that is part of why I fell in love with diving and photography. We take the experiences given to us and see where they lead.

I am still very new to this journey, and this recognition encourages me to keep discovering this whole new world.

Judge’s Insight

An excellent job of filling the frame. The open polyps are a testament to your careful approach, demonstrating discipline and respect for marine subjects. Combined with a good application of the rule of thirds and crisp details, this is a truly commendable achievement.

– Imran Ahmad

Our Sponsors

Real Focus 2026 would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors and partners. Their commitment to underwater photography, marine conservation and the diving community has helped make this inaugural event a reality.

We extend our sincere thanks to each of our sponsors for their valued contributions, which have helped recognise and reward the outstanding creativity, dedication and ethical storytelling demonstrated by our participants.

Together, we celebrate not only exceptional underwater imagery but also a shared passion for inspiring greater appreciation and protection of our oceans.

Learn, Lean In and Be Inspired

As this was our inaugural event, we want to keep learning together. We invite you to dive into our follow-up articles to read the official Judges’ Verdict in Explorer: Issue 9, discover our top Articles, Tips & Tricks, and gather inspiration for your next underwater adventure.

Thank you again for competing with heart, purpose and integrity.
See you in the water for Real Focus Underwater Shootout 2027!

15 February to 30 April 2027

Locations: Solitude Acacia Resort (Anilao) & Solitude Lembeh Resort (Lembeh)