​FSDA would like to introduce our judges for this year's Contest
 

Amanda Cotton is a Professional Nikon Photographer specializing in underwater imagery. As an avid scuba diver and ocean enthusiast, Amanda’s goal is to help the general public embrace the beauty below the waves, in hopes that with awareness comes concern. The conservation and preservation of this ecosystem is of the highest priority to Amanda. While she enjoys owning and operating a conservation-minded design/media company, A COTTON PHOTO Creative Works LLC, Amanda takes great pride in working with likeminded organizations that genuinely care about the planet and its inhabitants, both above and below the waves.
Amanda and her imagery have been featured in major publications and news sources worldwide including National Geographic, BBC, Discovery Channel, The Weather Channel, Smithsonian Magazine, Times Publishing, CNN, Scuba Diving Magazine, Sport Diver Magazine, Natural History Magazine, Earthweek, Science Daily and more. 
Working with organizations such as Scholastic Books, The Conservation Fund, Consortium For Ocean Leadership, Marine Life Protection Act, and Rourke Publishing has allowed Amanda’s imagery to have a positive impact on the oceans through education and outreach programs designed to improve awareness toward the plight the oceans now face.
Amanda is honored to be a Member of The Explorers Club and the Ocean Artists Society, and was recently inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame.  Check out Amanda's amazing work on her website www.acottonphoto.com.
Photography and scuba diving are Beth Watson’s passions. Adoring the ocean and everything it has to offer, she focuses on capturing images that are unique, creative and thought-provoking. Through her imagery she strives to illustrate the beauty and wonders of the sea, hoping it will inspire others to conserve and preserve our ocean environment. Fascinated by it all, she enjoys the challenges of photographing wideangle reefs and wrecks, as well as the tiniest animals in the sea. Beth is a international multi-award winning photographer. Her images have been published in books, magazines, newspapers, brochures, websites and have been selected for juried art exhibitions. Visit www.bethwatsonimages.com for more information.

Michael Patrick O'Neill is an award-winning photographer and author specializing in marine wildlife and environmental issues. He lives in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and for the last 24 years has traveled extensively worldwide photographing diverse aquatic animals, habitats and man's impact on them. He has written and photographed seven non-fiction marine life books designed to encourage children to read, write and become involved in science and conservation.  They have received outstanding reviews from School Library Journal and are distributed nationally in the educational system.  

His images have appeared in hundreds of publications worldwide including BBC Wildlife, National Geographic Magazine, Smithsonian, The Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, among many others, and have won the most prestigious competitions, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Picture of the Year (POYi).  Visit Michael's website www.mpostock.com to find out more about his amazing work and upcoming engagements.

Thanks all our judges for their time and effort!