Meet Our Judges

Ajiex Dharma

Local Guide

Creative Macro Master

Tulamben, Bali

Ajiex Dharma is a multiple award-winning photographer based in Tulamben, Bali. Is highly sought-after star dive guide to many top-ranking photographers for is creative approach. Ever since he started taking photos underwater in 2014, it has become a point of return. Photography is slowly integrated into his life and becomes his passion. While he is not diving, he will be busy exploring land photography, astrophotography, portrait, landscape, macro, wedding, and street photography. From underwater Fashion Photography, to his all-time favorite macro. Ajiex never stops bringing in ideas to build up his creative photography portfolio. So far he has created multiple works using techniques such as a Light Painting; Reverse Ring Effect; And Snooting. Ajiex is definitly one of the most creative photographer in the Macro shooter comunity.

Ben Sarinda

Local Guide

Creative Macro Expert Lembeh Local Marine Life Specialist

Lembeh Indonesia

Ben Sarinda is a highly respected underwater photographer and divemaster renowned for his captivating imagery and expertise in marine life. With a passion for underwater photography and videography, he has earned a reputation as a leading authority, particularly among those who frequent Lembeh. His extensive experience and deep knowledge of marine ecosystems and critter behavior inform his award-winning work. He is known for his mastery of lighting techniques, including creative and backlighting approaches, which he skillfully applies to capture the beauty and intrigue of the underwater world. Beyond his own photographic achievements, Ben is a sought-after divemaster and educator. He shares his expertise by teaching underwater photography, with a special focus on the art of lighting. He's a popular lecturer at underwater photography workshops. His experience in knowing underwater creatures' behavior and lighting skills has cemented his recognition. He is also frequently invited as a judge for underwater photography competitions and as a speaker at dive shows.

Christophe Kazmierski

Blackwater & Macro Photography Specialist

France

Christophe Kazmierski is a French underwater photographer and engineer who has dedicated his work to documenting the hidden world of macro and super-macro marine life. He started underwater shooting over 40 years ago and underwater digital photography from its early beginning in 2000. In his photography work, he defines himself as a technician, making allusion to his professional past when he worked with different microscopes for observation of the infinitely small. This emphasized very likely his passion for macrophotography, in which he thinks he can better express himself. Nevertheless, for a long time, he was a rather general photographer. Today, he actually focuses on underwater macrophotography. Since 2018 he has been exploring blackwater photography. Behind these rather demanding diving and photography techniques, he discovers a strange, beautiful world of aesthetic and scientific interests. More recently, he started the day macrophotography with a « snoot » and got addicted to this technique, which pushed him towards exploration of creative domains with the usage of color lighting. Over the last two decades, his pictures were awarded in dozens of different French and international underwater image contests. He also frequently published them in many specialized French magazines (Aquamonde, Plongez!, Plongée magazine, Plongeur international, Subaqua and more).

Ipah Uid Lynn

Multi Awarded Underwater Photographer

Malaysia

Ipah Uid Lynn is an internationally celebrated Malaysian underwater photographer, Canon EOS Master, Marelux Ambassador, and PADI Instructor. Her imagery blends emotion and artistry, redefining how stories of the ocean are told with sensitivity with strength, and purpose. Winner of the Blancpain Female Fifty Fathoms Award at the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024, Ipah’s work has been featured in global exhibitions around the world and publications. Renowned for her creative storytelling and distinctive visual voice, she now serves as a judge for numerous international photography competitions , continuing to champion images that inspire awareness with respect to marine life and connection with the sea.

Kati Eschweiler

Local Guide

Rare Critters Specialist

Romblon, Philippines

Originally from Northern Germany, Kati Eschweiler is a co-founder of The Three P Beach Resort in Romblon, the Philippines. More than 16 years diving in the Philippines, the passion for exploring the ocean has gradually honed her expertise as a rare critter specialist in the region. In 2025, Kati received one of the most grateful moments in her life: a newly discovered butterfly sea slug species - Cyerce katiae - was named after her. This is a heartfelt endorsement of her love and dedication to the ocean. Kati firmly believes the beauty of the ocean belongs to all mankind. She is one of the founders of “ID Please!” - a Facebook group with more than 60 thousand members that helps divers to identify marine species by submitting their photos to the group. Together with three brothers – Peter, Philipp, and Patrick Eschweiler – Kati has spent years exploring the rich ecosystems around Romblon Island. From studying scientific articles to documenting rare and unknown marine creatures, the ocean has already become a part of her life. Through years of dedication and passion in critter identification and spotting rare species, The Three P Beach Resort has earned warm recognition in the global scuba diving community. The steps that Kati has taken continue to make meaningful contributions to the world of underwater photography and marine science.

Pietro Formis

Awards Winning Macro Photographer & Author

Milan, Italy

Pietro Formis is an acclaimed Italian underwater he has established himself as one of Europe’s premier macro specialists and a dedicated workshop instructor. Through his images, Pietro aims to inspire wonder and bring viewers closer to the hidden life beneath the surface. Atmosphere plays a fundamental role in his work, where he highlights the intrinsic beauty of nature. At the same time, many of his photographs reveal the true condition of our oceans: fragile, endangered, polluted, and depleted. He has been awarded in major international photography competitions such as Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY), European Wildlife Photographer of the Year (GDT), among others. In 2019, Pietro published the book “AQUA, Mysteries of the Underwater World” (Daniele Marson Editore). Co-written with marine biologist Emilio Mancuso, the book was named “Underwater Book of the Year” at Underwater Photographer of the Year 2020 (UPY2020).

Tim Ho

Macro Photographer Legend, Workshop Leader

Anilao, Philippins

Tim Ho is an internationally acclaimed underwater photographer renowned for revolutionizing compact camera photography. Diving since 2003, Tim started his underwater photography journey in 2007 with a phone camera in a plastic ziplock bag. His unique approach of shooting without strobes, flash, or post-processing has inspired thousands of photographers worldwide to focus on technique over equipment. As the founder of Anilao Photo Academy, he has become one of the most respected and sought after educators in underwater photography today. Tim’s mentorship and coachings have helped shape many of today’s underwater photography competitions winners, many of today’s coaches and judges. Tim has proven that exceptional underwater photography is about vision and skill, not expensive gear. He now shares his expertise through private classes at APA; from which some of today’s biggest underwater photography names have emerged.