Here are the 30 outstanding winning photos of the 2023 Ocean Photographer of the year. Jialing Cai, a marine biologist with a passion for photography, has been honored as the 2023 Ocean Photographer of the Year for her captivating portrayal of a paper nautilus adrift on debris, captured in the aftermath of a volcanic eruption in the Philippines. Cai embarked on a blackwater dive shortly after the eruption, and her resultant image outshone the entries from other exceptionally talented photographers in the competition.
Cai’s fascination with blackwater dives was kindled when she learned about diel vertical migration (DVM), the phenomenon in which zooplankton ascend from the deep ocean to the surface during the night. She recalls, ‘That realization struck me like a bolt of lightning. My professor conveyed that the deep sea was within my reach, that it would come to me. This epiphany was truly mind-boggling and is the reason behind my intense passion for blackwater photography.’
In addition to Cai’s remarkable achievement, the annual contest, organized by Oceanographic Magazine, celebrates other extraordinary winners. The winning images range from a young polar bear desperately clinging to melting ice to two amiable manatees engaging with a photographer, offering a splendid glimpse of the ocean’s diverse wonders.
All the winners will feature in an extensive five-month-long exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum, commencing on November 17, 2023, providing an excellent opportunity to experience these award-winning images in person. For a preview of the winning entries and some of our other personal favorites, please continue scrolling, and explore the full winner’s gallery online.
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#1 The Ocean Photographer of the Year – 1st Place By Jialing Cai
“Following the Taal Volcano eruption in the Philippines, the water column filled with particles from stirred-up sediment,” says Cai. “Navigating through the low visibility and dense fog during a blackwater dive, I found this female paper nautilus taking a ride on a drifting wooden stick. When I pressed the shutter, the particles reflected my light. The scene felt unusually serene following the natural disaster and reminds me of a fairytale set in a snowy night. As underwater photographers, we aim to shoot in clear water but this image reminds us that grains of sand, organic matter, or tiny organisms are integral parts of the underwater environment. I aim to accept their presence and seek non-disruptive ways to incorporate them into my images.”
#2 The Ocean Photographer of the Year – 2nd Place By Andrei Savin
#3 The Ocean Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place By Alvaro Herrero Lopez-Beltran
#4 Wildlife Photographer of the Year – 1st Place By Jack Pokoj
A lizardfish’s open mouth reveals a surprise. “It seemed that the lizardfish was trying to swallow the other fish tail-first before it got stuck in its throat,” says Pokoj. “Both fish looked to be in some distress. Lizardfish are ambush predators and swim away if a diver gets too close, so this behaviour was highly unusual. The lizardfish kept its mouth open as if it wanted the fish inside its mouth to escape.”
#5 Wildlife Photographer of the Year – 2nd Place By Craig Parry
#6 Wildlife Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place By Nicholas Holton
#7 Fine Art Photographer of the Year – 1st Place By Jade Hoksbergen
“At night in the Maldives, bright lights shine down into the water as fishermen seek out baitfish for the country’s sustainable pole and line tuna fishery,” says Hoksbergen. “The light attracts plankton, which in turn attracts small fish. On occasion, they also bring in the largest fish in the ocean – whale sharks. While they were a nuisance to the fishermen in the past, a positive solution has been found by combining the two most important industries in the Maldives: tourism and fishing. Now, when a whale shark shows up at night, the fishermen call the team at COMO Maalifushi and eager guests are able to see and swim with an ocean giant. While taking this photograph, I was enveloped in darkness. I felt dwarfed in the shark’s presence.”
#8 Fine Art Photographer of the Year – 2nd Place By Alex Postigo
#9 Fine Art Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place By Henley Spiers
#10 Adventure Photographer of the Year – 1st Place By Todd Glaser
Balaram Stack surfs at Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of O’ahu. “I took this image with a drone which was new to me,” says Glaser. “I have photographed the Pipeline from every angle but have never seen it from above. I managed to get the swell, weather, wind, tide, and talent all in one shot. The rainbow at the edge of the wave is what made this one so special to me.”
#11 Adventure Photographer of the Year – 2nd Place By Gergo Rugli
#12 Adventure Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place By Franco Banfi
#13 Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year – 1st Place By Sylvie Ayer
“I went to Florida with one dream: to capture beautiful images of manatees,” says Ayer. “With a local friend, we saw several manatees. The manatee in the picture came close to look at me and was suddenly perfectly positioned in front of the sun’s rays. I hope this photo helps raise awareness of the need to protect these mammals.”
#14 Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year – 2nd Place By Jules Casey
#15 Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place By Gabriel Barathieu
#16 Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean – 1st Place By Jingyi Wang
“Humans have enjoyed the gifts of the sea for generations,” says Wang. “In China, these artisanal fishing fences stood proudly in the sea. I tried to capture this sense of pride and history in my image.”
#17 Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean – 2nd Place By Ioannis Pavlos Evangelidis
#18 Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean – 3rd Place By Jeroen Hoekendijk
#19 Young Photographer of the Year – 1st Place By Jarvis Smallman
For years I watched this wave from land just about any chance I could get. I studied the forecasts meticulously, learned about the swell sizes and directions, tides, and wind conditions. One day, it all lined up perfectly and me and bodyboarder Jarrad Linton went out to finally photograph the wave from the water. Big storm clouds blocked the sun and an electric blue colour came through the wave. I was stunned by the beauty of the scene. As Jarrad was paddling out, this perfect set came rolling in and I pressed the shutter.
#20 Young Photographer of the Year – 2nd Place By Aarron Sanders
#21 Young Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place By Jake Brandwine
#22 Ocean Portfolio Award – 1st Place By Sirachai Arunrugstichai
A young grey reef shark is hooked by an angler at night at Burma Bank, an offshore plateau in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Myanmar. “Although shark fisheries have been legally banned in Myanmar at the national level since 2009, there is a lack of enforcement at sea and poor trade regulation,” says Arunrugstichai. “This image is not a picture of an industrial shark fishing boat. The shark was incidentally caught and released.”
#23 Ocean Portfolio Award – 2nd Place By Renee Capozzola
#24 Ocean Portfolio Award – 3rd Place By Kat Zhou
#25 Female Fifty Fathoms Award – 1st Place By Merche Llobera
“In the Pacific Ocean’s crystal clear waters, these four Chilean devil rays glided gracefully around me,” says Llobera. “With my camera ready and my body submerged, I waited for the opportune moment to freedive and capture the sublime beauty of their aquatic ballet.”
#26 Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year – 1st Place By Florian Ledoux
“In the breathtaking Arctic landscape of Svalbard, Norway, a poignant scene unfolds,” says Ledoux. “In this impactful capture, we glimpse both beauty and fragility, a stark reminder of the urgent need to preserve this majestic realm urging us to safeguard our precious Arctic for generations to come. The polar regions are vital for the entire planet. Without the icy regions, the stability of our world is collapsing.”
#27 Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year – 2nd Place By Jeroen Hoekendijk
#28 Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year – 3rd Place By Sirachai Arunrugstichai
#29 Wildlife Photographer of the Year – Finalist: Artistic Ocean By Michael Haluwana
#30 Wildlife Photographer of the Year – Finalist: Maui, Hawaii By Renee Capozzola
