Ocean Photographer of the Year: Winners' photos
- Published
The Ocean Photographer of the Year celebrates some of the most incredible underwater photographers and the awe-inspiring world that exists in the world’s oceans. This year’s overall winner and Ocean Photographer of the Year is Ben Thouard who captured this perfectly timed shot of a surfer battling against a massive wave near the village of Teahupo’o in Tahiti, French Polynesia. This is no ordinary wave – it has been called the ‘heaviest wave in the world’. Olympic Games 2024 hosts Paris hope to host the surfing competitions in this very area.
From the South Pacific Ocean to the North Sea – photographer Mike Spencer scooped up the prize for the Fine Art category. In this image he captures waves breaking near the coast of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Mike said that he thinks the best time to photograph the sea is during winter. This image was taken in January, and Mike said: “The North Sea coast of the UK is perfect for sunrises. This picture was taken about an hour after sun-up and the sea state was calm.”
For the first time in the competition’s history, the Ocean Conservation category has been split into two – Impact and Hope. This photograph taken by Simon Lorenz won the Impact award. It shows an Olive Ridley sea turtle tangled in nets and rubbish. Simon spotted the turtle off the coast of Sri Lanka. He said that after he took the photograph, it took 30 minutes to rescue the turtle from the netting before sending her on her way.
And winning the Hope category is this image by Nicolas Remy, who spotted this group of critically endangered grey nurse sharks near New South Wales, Australia. Grey nurse sharks, also known as sand tiger sharks, are considered to be a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Photographer Nicolas said it “felt great” to be swimming with the sharks, and it was “[a] reminder that nature can thrive, if we give it a chance.”
Winning the Young Photographer category is Rutya Ogawa, with this adorable snap of a baby green turtle near the Ogasawara Islands in Japan. The category is for people aged 25 and under. “The baby turtles born on the islands have to migrate more than 1000km north to their feeding habitat,” said Rutya. Looks like this little one has a long journey ahead!
The Human Connection award celebrates the relationship between people and animals of the ocean. Winner Steve Woods caught the moment his friend dived below the surface to meet a massive sperm whale off the coast of Dominica. "This particular female sperm whale kept falling asleep in front of us, then waking up and investigating us again," Steve said. Let’s hope the whale didn’t mind having her picture taken while she was having a little snooze!
This spooky image won photographer Tom St George the Adventure category, and it’s easy to see why! The maze of underwater caves navigated by diver Ellen Cuylaerts are fascinating to look at. Tom took this picture in Mexico, South America. Tom said cave diving photography is “very much a team effort”. Caves like this were formed over thousands and thousands of years, with very few ever seen by humans.
Finally, this photograph is the winner of the Wildlife category. Taken by Rafael Fernandez Caballero off the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain it shows a pod of pilot whales swimming closely together. Pilot whales are incredibly special and intelligent beings that enjoy tight family bonds," said Rafael. But Rafael warns not to get too close: “They are curious and territorial,” he warned, “so most encounters involve them coming close to see what you want.” All photographs are on display from 5 October for a month as part of a free exhibition near London’s Tower Bridge.
- Published1 September 2022
- Published13 April 2022