www.adex.asia
ADEX 2016 VOICE OF THE OCEAN
WINNERS
Judges Iyad Suleyman, Kurt Amsler
and Lynn Funkhouser (speaking)
Brad Chen, founder and
CEO of Deepblu Inc
Judges Matthew Smith and
Pasquale Vassallo (speaking)
It would appear that nobody does
underwater photography competitions
quite like the Deepblu/ADEX Voice of the
Ocean 2016. This year it stood highly as
the “X Factor” of underwater photography
contests – many incredible images,
videos and artworks were showcased
on the ADEX main stage and received
insightful analysis and straight-up
opinions from the star-studded lineup of
judges. This year’s judging panel
was particularly special, being headed
by underwater photography superstar
Dr. Alex Mustard (UK), and consisted
of top underwater photographers
and videographers: Iyad Suleyman
(Ukraine), Kurt Amsler (Switzerland),
Lynn Funkhouser (USA), Matthew Smith
(UK), Pasquale Vassallo (Italy),
Rico Besserdich (Turkey), Shawn
Heinrichs (USA) and Tim Ho (Malaysia).
Online viewers were able to watch the
events and the scoring unfold through
ADEX’s brand-new live streaming, which
also allowed them to express their
opinions – digitally – on the picture,
video or artwork they were rooting for.
With a list of incredible prizes won for
these “A-game” works of art, we bring
you our winners.
The Deepblu/ADEX Voice of the Ocean
2016 trophies and prizes on display
Matthew Smith
Matthew began shooting
the coastlines of the
UK before plunging
into underwater
photography. Emigrating
to Australia in 2007, he
now counts the Pacific
Ocean as his playground.
Matthew has won
several prestigious
awards including
recognition in the BBC
Wildlife Photographer
of the Year competition
in 2014.
Pasquale Vassallo
Pasquale was in love
with the ocean from a
young boy, freediving
for sea urchins and
octopuses in his native
Naples, Italy. With his
first underwater camera,
a Nikonos III, he devoted
himself completely to
underwater photography
in 1989, focusing on
images of biological
interest in the Gulf in
Naples. He has since
been published and
awarded many times.
Rico Besserdich
Rico is a professional
underwater
photographer, lecturer,
artist and journalist,
and the International
Director of Underwater
Photography at DIWA,
the Diving Instructor
World Association.
He is a member of the
Ocean Artists Society
and his photography,
art and writing have
been published in many
magazines, books and
online publications
around the world.
Shawn Heinrichs
Shawn is an Emmy
Award-winning
cinematographer,
photographer, marine
conservationist and
founder of Blue Sphere
Media, a production
company specialising in
underwater, adventure
and conservation films.
He has worked with
high profile teams,
including CNN and
National Geographic,
and delivered
projects for many top
marine conservation
organisations.
Tim Ho
Tim was ADEX Singapore
2016’s Compact Camera
Ambassador. In 2009,
meeting photographers
with increasingly bigger
and more expensive
equipment, he decided
to fully understand and
maximise the capabilities
of his compact system. His
methods and techniques,
without using strobes,
are some of today’s
reference materials used
and shared by underwater
photography compact
camera teachers.