The Ocean Photographer of the Year Awards 2024 has once again brought together the most breathtaking images from our oceans. Hosted by Oceanographic Magazine, the competition celebrates photographers who capture powerful moments in nature, from huge sea creatures to the peaceful life below the surface.
This year’s winners and finalists share captivating views of our oceans, reminding us how big and fragile they are. Each photo tells a story, helping us explore and understand the underwater world while also showing why it’s important to protect it for the future.
#1 Wildlife Photographer Of The Year, Finalist Jake Wilton
Conflict Islands, Papua New Guinea
In Papua New Guinea's Conflict Islands, conservation efforts have transformed former poachers into protectors, boosting turtle hatchling numbers. “Amid this success, a rare leucistic green sea turtle was found amongst the nests,” says Wilton. “Using the surface of the calm water I captured the striking reflection of the hatchling as it surfaced for air. The discovery is a testament to the successful turnaround in conservation efforts and the beauty of these endangered creatures.”
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51points
The first-place winner, Rafael Fernández Caballero from Mexico, captured an unforgettable moment in Baja California Sur—a Bryde’s whale about to eat a school of sardines. Second place went to Jade Hoksbergen, who took an exciting photo of a northern gannet diving into the water off the Shetland Islands. In third place, Thien Nguyen captured a striking aerial photo off the coast of Hon Yen, Vietnam. These photos offer a glimpse into the vibrant and delicate world of our oceans, inspiring us to appreciate and protect their wonders.
#2 The Ocean Photographer Of The Year, 1st Place Winner Rafael Fernandez Caballero
Baja California Sur, Mexico
A Bryde’s whale takes a bite. “A feeding frenzy is the biggest show on earth for me. The smallest animals on earth, plankton, attract bait balls of sardines and, in turn, giant whales show up,” says Fernández Caballero. “I was lucky to witness this show off Baja California Sur at the end of 2023. Due to El Niño and warmer temperatures, different species joined the party and I witnessed huge numbers of beautifully colored dorados and large groups of sea lions that were attracted by the bait balls. The highlight was this whale coming out of nowhere with its mouth wide open.”
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48points
#3 Wildlife Photographer Of The Year, 3rd Place Winner Andrey Shpatak
Russia
A giant Pacific octopus in the shallows. “In late autumn, when the water temperature drops sharply to 5 degrees Celsius, giant Pacific octopuses rush to shallow water," says Shpatak. "Nobody really knows why yet but it has been happening for many years. Here, I met such an octopus at a shallow depth near the thickets of Zostera algae and I managed to take several pictures of this beautiful giant.”
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45points
Bored Panda contacted Nane Steinhoff, the editor of Oceanographic Magazine, to get more details about the competition. She revealed that they received over 15,000 entries this year. A panel of ocean photographers, editors, and gallery curators carefully reviewed each image to select the winners. "As we encourage entries from amateurs and professionals alike, we don’t necessarily look for the best technical images, but for photographs that evoke emotions, that communicate some of the most pressing issues in ocean conservation, or that share an exceptional ocean moment that is not often seen or captured."
#4 Fine Art Photographer Of The Year, Finalist Enric Gener
Menorca, Spain
“Spotting pelagic life in the Mediterranean Sea can be tough because you usually spend hours without seeing a single splash,” says Gener. “After about five hours of searching, we spotted this seagull and noticed that its legs weren’t underwater. We approached slowly with the boat and suddenly realized that it was standing on a sea turtle. I decided to jump into the water, thinking I would find the turtle dead because it wasn't moving. When I got close enough, I saw its face underwater and realized that the sea turtle was alive. What a surreal scene!”
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45points
#5 Wildlife Photographer Of The Year, Finalist Clayton Harris
Australia
A breaching humpback whale on its migration path along the Australian coastline. “I headed out to sea, to catch a glimpse of these majestic ocean travelers. With the smell of forest fires in the distance, a smoggy haze blanketed the horizon, softening the background of my composition. After sighting some activity in the distance, I readied myself in anticipation,” says Harris. “All of a sudden, an inquisitive juvenile surfaced near the boat, followed by this fully grown humpback whale lunging from the depths. It towered above us, in what can only be described as the most incredible display of power by an animal.”
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42points
We asked Steinhoff about any themes or trends they noticed in this year’s submissions compared to previous years.
"We really noticed how many of this year’s entries to our Ocean Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year category had ghost gear and abandoned fishing gear in their images. From entangled, lifeless birds to large nets getting pulled out of the water by multiple people, this year’s focus on this issue highlights the fact that we urgently need to do more about it. On a more positive note, we’ve received more fine art ocean photographs than ever before which is an exciting trend. It seems like an increasing amount of underwater photographers seek more creative ways to showcase the intricate details of marine life and the ocean as a whole through their camera lenses.”
#6 Fine Art Photographer Of The Year, Finalist Pietro Formis
Philippines
A juvenile African pompano. “The juveniles look very different from adults,” explains Formis. “They are very thin, with a silver body and very long appendages on their fins. Usually, the filaments stretch out behind them, making it almost impossible to capture the whole fish. This time, I got the shot while it was changing direction, and these beautiful long fins created circles around the silverfish. They looked like neon lights at night.”
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41points
#7 Wildlife Photographer Of The Year, Finalist Laura Leusko
Baja California Sur, Mexico
“Every year, thousands of mobula rays congregate in the Sea of Cortez. It is a breathtaking phenomenon to witness,” explains Leusko. “What initially looked like a dark ball of movement from the sky, transformed into an intricate lattice of mobula upon mobula as I flew my drone closer. That’s when they started jumping out of the water and it was pure magic. I’m grateful to be able to witness, capture and share these glimpses.”
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40points
"By showcasing the beauty of the ocean on a large scale, we’re hoping to reach beyond the 'ocean bubble' to get everyone, from all walks of life, interested in ocean conservation. We really hope that this year’s selection of images showcases just how much there is left in the ocean to protect, while also highlighting the many plights it is facing."
#8 Conservation (Hope) Photographer Of The Year, Finalist Florian Ledoux
Svalbard, Norway
A male and female polar bear rest after mating. “The image captures a tender moment of courtship between a female and a male polar bear, nestled together in the snow high in the mountains,” explains Ledoux. “After weeks of tracking her, the male finally caught up with the female as she started to accept him. It was such a delicate and intimate moment when we finally saw them mating. Afterward, they fell asleep together, a true reminder of the power of love, the resilience of life, and the precious bonds that exist within the wild.”
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40points
#9 Fine Art Photographer Of The Year, Finalist Mizael Palomeque Gonzalez
Mexico
A spotted eagle ray’s natural pattern. “On one of my dives, this beautiful eagle ray caught my eye,” says Palomeque Gonzalez. “It swam calmly across the sandy bottom as it exposed its intricate back to us all. I was amazed that nature inspires the most revolutionary creations. Its skin pattern reminds me of a binary code.”
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35points
#10 Wildlife Photographer Of The Year, 2nd Place Winner Rafael Fernandez Caballero
Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
“As we gaze at this marine iguana, with half of its body submerged in the waters and the other half emerging above the surface, it's impossible not to marvel at the uniqueness of these creatures. Without a doubt, marine iguanas are living dinosaurs, a testament to the countless stages and transformations life on our planet has undergone,” says Fernández Caballero. “Native to the Galápagos Islands, marine iguanas are a striking example of nature's incredible adaptability. Unlike other iguanas around the world, these are the only ones that have evolved to swim and feed underwater, holding their breath for up to 60 minutes. Their robust bodies and flattened tails have been perfectly shaped by the marine ecosystem they inhabit. Yet, despite their strength and adaptability, marine iguanas are considered vulnerable. The warm currents of the El Niño phenomenon, combined with rising global temperatures, have reduced the availability of food, forcing these iguanas to travel greater distances to find marine algae.”
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34points
#11 Wildlife Photographer Of The Year, Finalist Florian Ledoux
Svalbard, Norway
The Grinch, a polar bear with a distinctive character, rests. Ledoux explains: “She had a predictable routine. Each evening she would wake up, stretch, make her way to the ice edge and chase walruses off the ice. That night her playful spirit extended to the birds which she chased with boundless energy, running around simply for the joy of it. As dusk settled in, The Grinch decided it was time to hunt. Leaving the ice behind, she would head towards the hills, where her keen senses guided her to track reindeer. Within a few hours, she typically caught her reindeer, ensuring she had a substantial meal before resting. Satisfied and full, she would find a quiet spot to sleep, only to wake up the next evening and repeat her routine.”
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32points
#12 Young Photographer Of The Year, 2nd Place Winner Joao Pontes
Hawaii, USA
A perfectly camouflaged lizardfish with prey in its mouth. “Lizardfish are ambush predators and try to camouflage themselves among the paler substrate, remaining motionless, waiting for other fish to get close,” says Pontes. “They attack and capture their prey with sharp teeth, and sometimes they have eyes bigger than their stomachs. I think this photo highlights how colors can play very different roles in nature. Taking the shot from above ensured the distinct outlines of each fish were clear, thereby bringing the interaction into focus.”
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32points
#13 Adventure Photographer Of The Year, Finalist Tobias Friedrich
Northern Norway
Every winter, orcas and humpback whales come to Northern Norway to feed on Atlantic herring. “On our expedition to look for orcas and whales, we were quite unlucky for a whole week,” remembers Friedrich. “Suddenly, we found a bait ball with herring just outside the harbor of Skjervoy. This huge humpback filled its huge mouth with the small fish, before swimming past us closely."
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30points
#14 Conservation (Impact) Photographer Of The Year, Finalist Celia Kujala
Kiepert Island, Svalbard, Norway
“A polar bear walked along the shoreline when something on the ground piqued his interest,” says Kujala. “He picked it up and started to play with it. My heart sank as I realized he had found a piece of plastic. Watching the polar bear play with a piece of plastic in the beautiful Arctic wilderness underscored the impact of human waste on even the most remote environments. Not even the uninhabited reaches of the Arctic are exempt from the pervasive grip of plastic pollution. It was a sobering reminder of the urgent need to address the problem.”
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29points
#15 Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean, Finalist Ioannis Pavlos Evangelidis
Sri Lanka
Traditional Sri Lankan stilt fishermen at sunset. “This is a single take at 10s shutter speed, showcasing the water movement in contrast to the stillness of the fishermen. Traditional artisanal fishing methods like these, used for subsistence, do not pose a significant threat to the ocean’s natural resources. On the contrary, they make local communities active stakeholders to the ocean’s health,” explains Evangelidis.
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28points
#16 Fine Art Photographer Of The Year, Finalist Ajiex Dharma
Bali, Indonesia
A peacock mantis shrimp in a stunning display of vibrant blue, green, and orange hues against a dark background. “Its prominent, bulging eyes, known for their extraordinary vision, give it an alien-like look,” says Dharma. “The swirling light effect around the shrimp adds a sense of energy and ethereal quality, making it appear otherworldly. The detailed patterns and colors of the shrimp's exoskeleton are highlighted, showcasing its natural beauty and complexity.”
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27points
#17 Conservation (Hope) Photographer Of The Year, 3rd Place Winner Matty Smith
Sydney, Australia
“Hiding under the boat piers and jetties of Sydney Harbour, you’ll find these small and endangered White’s seahorses if you’re lucky,” says Smith. “Named after Dr White of the First Fleet, their numbers have been in decline due to human activities. However, due to conservation programmes and captive breeding and release, their numbers are happily recovering. I was lucky to find this individual clinging to a bright pink sponge and was able to take a photograph with a splash of colour.”
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27points
#18 Young Photographer Of The Year, 1st Place Winner Jacob Guy
North Sulawesi, Indonesia
The algae octopus is an elusive creature. “Normally coming out to hunt at dusk, with incredible camouflage, these creatures blend seamlessly into the reef - until they are viewed under a different light,” says Guy. “These octopuses are one of the only cephalopods that actually fluoresce under ultraviolet light. On my last night dive of the trip, I got lucky and found one of these beautiful creatures on the hunt for a meal and managed to capture the intense look from its yellow eyes.”
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27points
#19 Conservation (Hope) Photographer Of The Year, Finalist Remuna Beca
The Bahamas
A Southern stingray patrols a healthy seagrass meadow in the Bahamas. "Seagrass beds are among the world’s most productive and ecologically important ecosystems, playing a pivotal role in mitigating climate change by capturing and storing carbon dioxide from our atmosphere at a rate much faster than forests," explains Beca. "I captured this image while freediving. That morning, the sunlight was stunning, casting ethereal beams through the water and perfectly illuminating the graceful stingray on patrol. I hope this image highlights the importance of these vital ecosystems and inspires efforts to protect them."
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25points
#20 Wildlife Photographer Of The Year, Finalist Merche Llobera
Baja California Sur, Mexico
“The image captures the crazy duality of the hunt. Above, pelicans dive from the sky in a well-coordinated dance. Underwater, it's pure chaos. Mahi-mahi darts around at top speed, chasing sardines,” explains Llobera. “I was in the water for hours because the bait ball was static. The surface was murky from the feast, with sea lions also joining the action. Whales passed by, but none went for the sardines. Being in the middle of this frenzy was wild and exhilarating. I felt so fortunate to witness such an incredible scene, showcasing nature's raw, chaotic beauty.”
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25points