Poul Erik Rasmussen wins Denmark’s underwater photography championship

Poul Erik Rasmussen has won Denmark’s national underwater photography championship, held this past weekend in Kolding Fjord and the Lillebelt, according to a report by DR.

The competition, organised by the photo committee of the Danish Sports Divers Association, took place near Gl. Ålbo Camping, where divers competed in three categories: wide-angle, macro, and this year’s theme, reef. Each participant could submit up to three images per category.

Judges ranked submissions individually within each category, with the combined top 10 determining final placements. Points were awarded from 75 for first place down to one for tenth. The overall winner was the photographer with the highest total score across all categories.

Rasmussen secured victory with two first-place finishes and a second-place result. Klaus Kevin Kristensen won the macro category, the only one Rasmussen did not take.

The location was chosen deliberately. A stone reef established last year near the campsite has shown significant marine life development, according to Mikkel Noe-Nygaard, chair of the organising committee. He noted areas without such reefs remain barren.

“It’s a huge morale boost to see that when these stone reefs are established, something happens,” Noe-Nygaard said. “Where there are no stones, it’s unfortunately dead. It’s a desert to swim around in.”