Ocean Photographer of the Year

Related topics

TemporaryOcean futures
Photograph taken underwater showing a large number of whales around a diver.

Loading...

Celebrate the wonder and fragility of our blue planet through the world’s leading ocean photography competition, returning to the Australian National Maritime Museum this November.

The Ocean Photographer of the Year showcases more than 15,000 submissions from around the globe, distilled into a breathtaking gallery of winning and finalist images. From intricate macro shots of tiny amphipods to vast underwater vistas and dramatic drone scenes, these photographs reveal both the beauty of the ocean and the urgent need to protect it.

This year’s overall winner is Indonesia-based photographer Yury Ivanov, whose mesmerising image of two 3mm ‘ladybugs of the sea’ captivated judges with its message that wonder exists at every scale. Two Australians are also among this year’s category winners: Marcia Riederer took out the Fine Art category with her portrait of a Dwarf Minke whale on the Great Barrier Reef, while Craig Parry won Human Connection for a powerful drone image of a stranded Humpback whale rescue attempt on Seven Mile Beach.

The exhibition celebrates excellence across categories including The Ocean, Wildlife, Fine Art, Adventure, Conservation (Hope), Conservation (Impact), Human Connection, Young Photographer of the Year and the Ocean Portfolio Award, along with the prestigious Female Fifty Fathoms Award, this year awarded to Jialing Cai.

Presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain, this powerful exhibition is a reminder that photography can connect us to the ocean in ways words cannot and invites us to see, feel, and ultimately protect our shared blue planet.

'The stories behind these photographs are as compelling as the visuals themselves – they challenge us to see the ocean not just as a place of wonder, but as a world in need of our care.’

Ms Daryl Karp AM - Director and CEO

Shi Xiaowen

Matthew Sullivan

Jade Hoskbergen

Daniel Sly

Antonia Bertran-Regis

Jailing Cai

Presented by

Sydney exhibition partner