Winners of the California Academy of Sciences Big photo contest was recently announced, with the grand prize going to award-winning American photojournalist Karine Aigner for her photo of cactus bees huddled together in a mating ball.
But it’s the “Underwater Life” category that underwater photographers will appreciate most, including self-taught photographer David Slater’s category winner, which shows a swarm of starfish devouring Dead sea lion on the seabed. Taken in the shallow waters of Monterey Bay, the eerie photo includes sea lions swimming in the background — possibly California sea lions but possibly Steller sea lions — and starfish scavenging numerous color is bat star (Patiria miniata), up to 8 inches wide.
“I knew this image especially when I first published it but words cannot even describe how I felt to have won first place in such a prestigious competition,” Slater wrote on Instagram page. The photo shows that “beauty and adventure can be found in unexpected places,” he added.
Take a look at other stunning winners and finalists in the “Underwater Life”, “Land Wildlife” and “Landscape, Underwater Landscapes and Plants” categories below.
Finalist, Aquarius: “Shooting Star” by Tony Wu
Finalist, Aquatic: “Colorful Underwater Snowstorm” by Tom Shlesinger
Finalist, Aquatic: “Weedy Scorpionfish” by Magnus Lundgren
Finalist, Life Underwater: “Danger in the Mud” by Jens Cullman
Finalist, Aquatic: “Curious Co-Parenting” by Domenico Roscigno
Finalist, Aquatic: “Goliath in Lilliput” by Tom Shlesinger
Finalist, Terrestrial Wildlife: “Embryology” by Jaime Culebras
Winner, Landscapes, Underwater Landscapes and Flora: “The Beauty Underneath Our Feet” by Tom St. George
