David Barrio and María Luisa Quintanilla, winning team at the 14th Open Fotosub Isla de Hierro

Image awarded for Best Model. PHOTO: David Barrio

As it happens, the top three finishers have already won in previous editions of the Open Fotosub Isla de El Hierro.

The Open Fotosub has announced the winners of its 14th edition. David Barrio and María Luisa Quintanilla have deserved, in the jury’s opinion, the trophy and the 5,000 Euros that acknowledge this edition’s best underwater photos.

The second prize went to another classic of the Open of El Hierro, Arturo Telle with his model Montse Grillo, current Spanish champions of underwater photography.

The third best collection prize went to the previous edition’s winning team, local photosub Juan Ramón Marcelino (current Canary Islands champion) and his model María José Rodríguez, while Julio Díaz and Esther Torrent, and Manel Calero and Antonio Domingo Gutiérrez finished fourth and fifth respectively.

As it happens, the top three finishers have already won in previous editions of this competition.

The award for best environment photo went to Julio Díaz and Esther Torrent; the best close-up award for the Open Fotosub ex-champions Eduardo Avecedo and Antonio Martínez, while María Luisa Quintanilla, who posed for the winning photographer, David Barrio, won the award for best model of this edition.

The Fito Herzog Award for the most representative photograph of El Hierro went to Juan Ramón Marcelino and María José Rodríguez, while the Special Jury-Benthos Buceo award went to Arturo Telle and Montse Grillo.

The jury was made up on this occasion by the ex Spanish underwater photography champion and second in last year’s Open, Esteban Toré; the many times Portugal champion, Rui Guerra (who has participated in the open of El Hierro on four occasions) and the current champion of Tenerife, Juan Miguel Alemany.

A total of 15,000 Euros were distributed in cash prizes in this new edition of the international underwater photography competition of El Hierro.

The event was organised by the Cabildo of El Hierro with the collaboration of the Tourism Department of the Government of the Canary Islands, the three town halls of El Hierro (Valverde, La Frontera and El Pinar), Mar de Las Calmas Marine Reserve, Naviera Armas, Binter Canarias, Herzog (with its brands Cressi Sub and Zodiac), Bazar El Meridiano, Rótulos El Meridiano, underwater diving and business center of La Restinga, Spanish Red Cross and the Special Group of Underwater Activities of the Guardia Civil (GEAS), the General Direction of Security and Emergencies of the Government of the Canary Islands, AEA, CECOES 112 and the Workshop School of Security and Emergencies of the Cabildo de El Hierro.