Ist placed: HELMUT THEISS

		Location of photo:  Lembeh/ North Sulawesi Type of camera used: Olympus SP-560UZ Lens used: Film type:

Biography of the author:
I am a Transylvanian Saxon born 1967 in Romania, living since 1988 in Germany. I discovered my passion for scuba diving at 1998 by completing the PADI training up to DIVE-Master together with my wife Hedda. I do not earn my living by scuba diving - I work in the automobile industry (Daimler in Stuttgart) – so that the few hours during vacation is the only time I spend under water with my camera. During the dives my wife takes care so that I don’t get lost while photograph :). We are both macro and critter fans. Therefore we have chosen South East Asia as our favourite vacation destination. Each vacation we spend three weeks in Thailand, Indonesia or Philippines, depending on the season. I bought my first underwater camera because I wanted to bring the fascinating underwater world to my family and friends. It was not real photography, just some snapshots with a Sea & Sea MX 10. In 2004 I bought my first digital camera. I wanted to improve my photos step by step. I changed my equipment quite often because small motives are a challenge for some cameras. Today I am using a Canon EOS 450D in RDX450 housing from Sea&Sea with two strobes YS 110 alpha from Sea&Sea. I am thoroughly convinced that diving with a camera - catching moments for the time I can not dive - doubles the fun under water and makes me happy watching them at home with friends and family.
 

 

		Location of photo: White sea, Russia Type of camera used: Nikon D300 Lens used: Nikor 10,5mm Film type: 8Gb

.

3rd placed: DRAY VAN BEECK

		Location of photo: Red Sea, Egypt Type of camera used: Nikon D300 Lens used: Tokina 10-17mm Film type: Digital