KOROR (Palau Horizon) — The first international underwater photo festival in Palau concluded with a promise that there will be another contest next year.
Jan Abadschieff, a German national, bagged the grand prize.
Abadschieff received $10,000 worth of special packages for his winning photo.
Andrea Windsor got the Dil’ Techelbakl award given to the best woman photographer during the event.
Palau First Lady Debbie Remengesau won 4th place in the novice category.
Awards were also given for the wide angle, macro, wreck and artistic shots.
Abadschieff also bagged 1st place for the wide-angle category. Second prize went to Nobuhito Hashimoto while Mike Veitch won 3rd prize.
In the macro category, Ethan Daniel got 1st place; Bernardo Sombra, 2nd; and Kevin Davidson, 3rd.
In the wreck category: Abadschieff, 1st; Veitch, 2nd; and Antonio Husadel, 3rd.
For the artistic shot, Hashimoto, 1st; Daniel, 2nd; Sombra, 3rd.
Ryuji Isihiura won 1st place in the digital category; Walter Adler, 2nd; and Flynn Reluked, 3rd.
The first prize in the novice category was bagged by Geoff Cook. Valerie Crousse was 2nd and Jim Brucia was 3rd.
Sen. Surangel Whipps, chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, said the one-week photo fest was an opportunity to promote Palau’s underwater beauty.
Whipps said the event attracted participants from Italy, Germany, Japan and the United States.
The judges were Dave Doubilet, Sammy Tanaka, James Watt, Paul Munzinger, Al Hornsby, Tim Rock, Bruce Rasner, Barry Andrewartha Stuart and Michele Westmoreland.
Mark Orrukem, Palau Visitors Authority’s marketing and research manager, said the event is likely to be held annually.
“We are very happy about the result of the festival and the participants were all happy with the event,” Orrukem said.
During the awarding ceremony Thursday night, locals in the diving business were recognized. Special recognition were given to Francis Toribiong and Bena Sakuma.
