Vietnamese photographer wins second prize at international ocean photography competition.

The Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year Awards (OGPICOTY) is an annual photo contest organized by the Ocean Geographic Society and Ocean Geographic magazine, both based in Australia. The contest is supported and judged by leading experts in contemporary ocean art and science , with the aim of honoring the most impressive works related to the ocean.

2023 marks the 10th year of the competition, featuring 17 different photo categories, ranging from coral reefs around the world to portraits of marine animals, marine animal behavior, and the relationship between humans and the ocean… with a total prize pool of $90,000. The results were announced last weekend.

Nguyen Ngoc Thien rose to fame in underwater photography, winning numerous awards and exhibitions at prestigious international photography competitions. As a result, at OGPICOTY 2023, Nguyen Ngoc Thien was the only Vietnamese photographer to win a prize (second prize) in the "World's Coral Reefs" category with his work, Hon Yen Coral Garden.

In addition, this photographer also won an honorable mention in the "Animal Portrait" category with his work " Pufferfish and Plastic Cup, " taken during a diving trip in the Nam Du Islands, Kien Giang.

Hon Yen Island, Phu Yen, is a popular location for photographers to create their works throughout the year, such as during the purse seine fishing season or the coral reef season. The image shown here, taken by Nguyen Ngoc Thien, depicts the coral reef of Hon Yen Island and was featured in the "Photo of the Day" section of the prestigious National Geographic magazine.

Vietnam has 3,260 km of coastline stretching from North to South, with approximately over 1,100 km2 of coral reefs. In particular, April to August is the best time of year for snorkeling and coral viewing in the central coastal region. Hon Yen Island, located in Nhon Hoi village, An Hoa commune, Tuy An district, Phu Yen province, is a rocky island belonging to the Hon Yen archipelago, recognized as a National Scenic Monument in 2018, and boasts rare coral reefs.

The "natural specialty" of Hon Yen is a shallow-water coral reef near the shore, resembling a "flowering rock garden," exposed to the elements during the first or middle days of the lunar month, occasionally revealing prominent starfish on the shimmering water's surface.

"At Hon Yen coral reef, on days when the tide is high, around 3-5 meters, visitors can swim above and admire the coral below through goggles and snorkels. Coral photos become more artistic when capturing the waves that separate the landscape into two worlds – above and below the water (underwater split-shots) – simultaneously in the same frame," he shared.

Seagrass beds stretch beneath the waters around Hon Yen Island. The coral reefs in general around Hon Yen are considered a "miniature city," an ideal habitat for marine life such as fish, jellyfish, starfish, etc., creating a mesmerizing beauty.

Besides the shallow coral reefs, there are also abundant coral formations beneath the surface of the water east of Hon Yen Island. This area is quite dark and the water temperature is significantly colder than the western side. There is a constant current below, affecting swimmers and divers, so at least two people should assist each other while diving. If you see many jellyfish in the current, stay away and avoid contact with the slimy substance, which can cause red spots, burns, or skin irritation.

Sharing his knowledge of underwater photography, Mr. Thien advised tourists to participate in scuba diving courses at reputable training centers to be fully equipped with diving knowledge and practice, including scuba diving and freediving. In addition, investing in underwater photography equipment is necessary, but most importantly, the photographer's sense of perspective, viewpoint, and ideas are crucial.

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