The Underbathwater Photographer of the Year 2021
Fourth Element’s Contest
“Taking care of the bathtub-plug-chain eggs”
A toy anemonefish looking over its eggs made out of the bathtub plug chain.
Winner of the Zoom In Category
“The interaction of the eye contact between the anemone fish and her “eggs” is where the judges felt that this photo succeeded in bringing an added dimension to what was clearly an attempt to mimic one of judge Alex Mustard’s own ocean images. The negative space framed by the ingenious use of what looks like Christmas baubles as eggs draws the viewer in, before realising that this shows toys in the bath.”
“The swim-by of a Lego® shark”
A combined zoom and panning blur of a Lego® shark with its mouth wide-open swimming past the bathtub diver.
Highly Commended in the Indoor Animal Behavior Category
“This recreation of a classic image is given the full Underbathwater treatment by the use of Lego. A close contender in the lockdown Lego category, the image suggests motion beautifully and it’s almost possible to ignore that this is, in fact a toy.”
“The ambush”
A Lego® anglerfish attracts a small fish into an ambush attack through the bathtub seagrass using its shiny lure.
Highly Commended in the Lockdown Lego Category
“This close encounter has great composition and made the judges smile. Here the creativity was not so much in the construction (the photographer used a standard Lego set) but in the great use of lighting and a wonderful juxtaposition of predator and prey.”
“Giants of the bathtub”
A Lego® blue whale rises to the surface under the afternoon bathtub sunrays while a diver takes a picture of it.
“In between bubbles”
Self-portrait at the surface of the bathtub taken while blowing bubbles onto the camera’s dome port.
“Will you be my Valentine?”
Two aquarium-decoration seahorses mating in the safety of the bathtub seagrass in the shape of a heart (perfect for a Valentine’s Day post!)
“Sunset surface exploring”
A Lego® shark explores the surface of the water with its nose during a warm bathtub sunset.
“Bite scare”
An abstract zoom blur of a Lego® shark with its mouth wide-open reflected against the surface of the bathtub water to show the fear that sharks entice on people.
“Just breath”
Upside-down self-portrait taken at the surface of the bathtub water while breathing out all my air onto the camera's dome port.