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Stellar Squid and Octopus Photos from the 2014 Photo Competition

By Ashley Annin | Published On November 17, 2014
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Stellar Squid and Octopus Photos from the 2014 Photo Competition

Spotting a squid or octopus is always an exciting experience, but capturing an amazing photo of these critters can be a challenge. Luckily, the amazing underwater photographers from our 2014 Through Your Lens photo competition nabbed some top-notch shots.

A swimming wonderpus shot in Puerta Galera, Philippines.

Goos Van Der Heide

A curious squid appeared in our light beams during a night dive. He stayed around, flashing color as if trying to communicate.

Rick Mowbray

The whole point of exploration is to find something never before discovered. This is an undescribed octopus photographed at night in the middle of the ocean. Unnamed creatures abound here, following the darkness to the surface at nightfall to feed, only to descend back into the depths by morning.

Jeff Milisen

When the octopuses' emotions are extremely high, they release their ink — similar to how people release their emotions through writing and art.

Conor Culver

Blue-ring octopuses are some of the world's most venomous marine animals, and they can be recognized by their blue and black rings. They are typically 5 to 8 inches in length, but their venom is powerful enough to kill humans. No antivenom is available, which makes these creatures among the deadliest in the ocean.

Yen-Yi Lee

After laying her eggs, the female octopus cares for her babies until they hatch. She sits guard and forgoes food the entire time, which ranges from weeks to several months. She blows currents across her eggs to keep them clean and protects them from predators. As her babies grow safely within the eggs, she becomes more and more weak. The great mother dies after her eggs hatch.

Yen-Yi Lee

A squid photo, captured on Blue Heron Bridge.

Henry Mather

I was filming a female blue-ring octopus when a male came out from behind and latched on.

Fayol Chan

This photograph of two mating bobtail squid was taking during a night dive in Taiwan.

Ping Ying Wu

This blue ring octopus was flying through Bali's strong current.

Alex Suh

A curious octopus that swam straight toward me.

Filippo Borghi

Any direction I swam, this bold octopus would turn to face me.

William Goodwin

A hairy octopus hides in full camouflage.

Jeff LaFrenz

I was 5 miles offshore from the Big Island over thousands of feet of water when I saw this pelagic squid. Its tentacles were very expressive and with a twitch of a sucker, the little cephalopod could show fear, anger or even curiosity.

Jeff Milisen

The defensive display of this venomous poison ocellate octopus to an approaching diver looks as if it's going in for a handshake.

Christian Loader

An octopus on the move during a night dive in Florida.

Heidi Thoricht

Portlock is known for its wild ocean energy. The surf zone there can be as punishing as it is beautiful. The rewards for braving such conditions, though, are many. This day octopus takes refuge in the nearshore surge to bask in the shallow sunlight among the hard coral reef.

Jeff Milisen

I was focused on a scorpionfish when out of the corner of my eye I saw something move. This octopus was hoping to avoid my strobes, but I was able to interact with him for 10 minutes before he found a new den.

Robin Bateman

These two Caribbean reef squid seemed to like their reflections in the early morning light.

Shane Gross

A baby octopus shot during a night dive.

Jeffrey de Guzman

A stubby squid showing off its colors.

Tom Radio

Spotting a squid or octopus is always an exciting experience, but capturing an amazing photo of these critters can be a challenge. Luckily, the amazing underwater photographers from our 2014 Through Your Lens photo competition nabbed some top-notch shots.