Photography

Frozen waterfalls and stunning seas: The best water photos of the year

Frozen waterfalls and stunning seas: The best water photos of the year
'Underwater, we are free', Okinawa, Japan
'Underwater, we are free', Okinawa, Japan
View 29 Images
'A lone surfer braving the winter cold on the Cornish North Coast', St. Agnes, Cornwall, UK
1/29
'A lone surfer braving the winter cold on the Cornish North Coast', St. Agnes, Cornwall, UK
'Afternoon sunlight magic', Inle lake, Myanmar
2/29
'Afternoon sunlight magic', Inle lake, Myanmar
'Braided rivers in New Zealand', New Zealand
3/29
'Braided rivers in New Zealand', New Zealand
'Bubbling boiling water in Bolivia', South Bolivia
4/29
'Bubbling boiling water in Bolivia', South Bolivia
'Catching shrimps in the sea', Quang Ngai, Vietnam
5/29
'Catching shrimps in the sea', Quang Ngai, Vietnam
'Fishing', Long Dien, Ba Ria, Vietnam
6/29
'Fishing', Long Dien, Ba Ria, Vietnam
'Ice cave', Iceland
7/29
'Ice cave', Iceland
'City on water', Venice, Italy
8/29
'City on water', Venice, Italy
Agora's best water photography. 'Frozen water creates a path for climbers', Utah, United States
9/29
Agora's best water photography. 'Frozen water creates a path for climbers', Utah, United States
'Catching fish', Quảng Ngãi, Vietnan
10/29
'Catching fish', Quảng Ngãi, Vietnan
'Fisherman under the dawn', Quang Lang Beach, Diem Diem District, Vietnam
11/29
'Fisherman under the dawn', Quang Lang Beach, Diem Diem District, Vietnam
'Island Life | Philippines', Palawan, Philippines
12/29
'Island Life | Philippines', Palawan, Philippines
'Island Water', Iceland
13/29
'Island Water', Iceland
'Kerið', Kerið, Iceland
14/29
'Kerið', Kerið, Iceland
'Life of Buffalo Herder', Garhbeta, West Medinipur, West Bengal, India
15/29
'Life of Buffalo Herder', Garhbeta, West Medinipur, West Bengal, India
'Low tide day', Lap An Lagoon Hue, Vietnam
16/29
'Low tide day', Lap An Lagoon Hue, Vietnam
'Lost', Rattray Head, Scotland, UK
17/29
'Lost', Rattray Head, Scotland, UK
'Person in yellow at Skogafoss', Skogafoss, Iceland
18/29
'Person in yellow at Skogafoss', Skogafoss, Iceland
'Prueba del Campeonato del Mundo de Grandes Olas Punta Galea Challenge 2019', Getxo, Spain
19/29
'Prueba del Campeonato del Mundo de Grandes Olas Punta Galea Challenge 2019', Getxo, Spain
'Rainwater', Tokyo, Japan
20/29
'Rainwater', Tokyo, Japan
'Sunset on the salt field of Ninh Diem Khanh Hoa Vietnam', Nha Trang, Vietnam
21/29
'Sunset on the salt field of Ninh Diem Khanh Hoa Vietnam', Nha Trang, Vietnam
'The first rains of the year make the rivers start flowing again', Dili, Timor-Leste
22/29
'The first rains of the year make the rivers start flowing again', Dili, Timor-Leste
'Pagoda on beach', China
23/29
'Pagoda on beach', China
'Vision Tree', Malaysia
24/29
'Vision Tree', Malaysia
'Water Drops', Semarang, Indonesia
25/29
'Water Drops', Semarang, Indonesia
'Working on the salt field', Long Dien, Ba Ria, Vietnam
26/29
'Working on the salt field', Long Dien, Ba Ria, Vietnam
Winner 'Thirsty ants', Binangonan, Philippines
27/29
Winner 'Thirsty ants', Binangonan, Philippines
'Underwater, we are free', Okinawa, Japan
28/29
'Underwater, we are free', Okinawa, Japan
'Water Collection', Mandalay, Myanmar
29/29
'Water Collection', Mandalay, Myanmar
View gallery - 29 images

From extraordinary macro images to abstract aerial drone shots, water photography can take many forms, much like water itself. In photography social network Agora’s latest contest, H2O is celebrated in a spectacular collection of images.

“Water molecules are a blend of millions of years of history and have passed through many oceans, continents, and beings of all kinds,” explains Agora CEO, Octavi Royo. “It has evolved from liquid to solid states countless times over the course of time.”

Winner 'Thirsty ants', Binangonan, Philippines
Winner 'Thirsty ants', Binangonan, Philippines

From 50 finalists a public vote settled on a shot from amateur photographer Analiza Daran De Guzman as the grand prize winner. Titled Thirsty Ants, the shot was taken with a Samsung smartphone and macro lens clip.

“This image was shot under our garden's mango tree, where local ants have settled their colonies,” explains De Guzman. “The weather here in the Philippines is pretty hot, so I give them water and make the most of our encounter to take some macro photos.”

'The first rains of the year make the rivers start flowing again', Dili, Timor-Leste
'The first rains of the year make the rivers start flowing again', Dili, Timor-Leste

Many of the featured photographs investigate how humans interact with water, often capitalizing on natural phenomenons to harvest food. Portuguese photographer Joao Galamba’s incredible aerial shot of Timorese fisherman offers a stunning look at an annual event, when the first rain of the year introduces the muddy river water to the deep blue sea.

“At sea level, the division of the muddy river and the ocean water is not as clear as from above,” explains Galamba, “so I had no idea what to expect from up there! After launching the drone and face the camera downwards, I was stunned with what I was seeing: the thick texture and brownish color of the river contrasting with the soft texture and deep blue color of the ocean was not something that I have ever seen in my life!”

Agora's best water photography. 'Frozen water creates a path for climbers', Utah, United States
Agora's best water photography. 'Frozen water creates a path for climbers', Utah, United States

Other highlights from the top 50 include a look at a buffalo herder in India taking his herd for a quick bath, an ice climber perilously ascending a frozen waterfall, and early morning fishing in Vietnam.

Take a look through our gallery at more highlights from the Water2020 Agora contest.

Source: Agora

View gallery - 29 images
2 comments
2 comments
ljaques
While I like the larger pics, I miss the captions. (Later found out that 90% scale in Firefox revealed them again.) The two mirrored pics were intriguing.
highlandboy
In the gallery number 20 “rainwater japan” is upside down.