13 Winning Shots From The 2023 Ocean Photography Awards

Ocean photography lets us dive beneath the surface and see what lives hidden in the deep, blue, massive waters.

This year's annual Ocean Photography Awards, organized by Oceanographic Magazine, announced their winners, who not only capture marine life but also draw attention to many of the environmental problems that we currently are facing.

This year, the contest had nine categories, and the overall winner, the Ocean Photographer of the Year, was a 25-year-old marine biologist and amateur photographer - Jialing Cai. The Australian National Maritime Museum is hosting an exhibition including all of the winners' beautiful photographs, which will end in May 2024.

So, without further ado, we invite you to explore this year's aquatic life through the eyes of these talented photographers.

More info: oceanographicmagazine | Instagram

10 PHOTOS

#1 Conservation (Hope) Photographer Of The Year, 1st Place Winner 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."

Pictolic reached out to Sylvie Ayer, the 1st place winner in the category ‘Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year’, who shared some insights into capturing the winning photo of a manatee.

We asked Sylvia to tell us what inspired her passion for conservation photography, specifically focusing on marine life, such as manatees. Sylvia responded: “The ocean offers us incredible riches. Unfortunately, humans destroy them selfishly. The majority of the population does not know marine life. By taking pictures of animals, and especially those in danger of extinction, I hope that humans will become more aware of the urgency of protecting them.”

#2 Wildlife Photographer Of The Year, 2nd Place Winner Craig Parry

"Surrounded by diverse wildlife in Paradise Bay, a raft of energetic gentoo penguins charged towards our inflatable," says Parry. "Getting low on the boat, I prefocused my lens anticipating the moment. Freezing the fastest penguin species in the world head-on wasn’t easy as they raced at speeds of over 20mph towards me. An epic moment as I maintained focus and composition and fulfilled my gentoo vision by locking in a dynamic front-on portrait that surpassed even my wildest visions."

#3 Wildlife Photographer Of The Year, 3rd Place Winner Nicholas Holton

"One of the ocean’s largest mammals, the humpback whale, lands gracefully on its back after launching its enormous frame out of the depths of the Pacific Ocean," says Holton. "Studying whale behavior and understanding their motivations for breaching, coupled with endless hours spent optimizing flight and camera settings, helped to freeze this beautiful moment in time that I call ‘Imprint of a Giant’. The annual humpback whale migration up the east coast of Australia sees Sydney come alive with ever-increasing numbers of whales, bringing joy to everyone along the way."

The natural lighting and composition made Sylvia’s image look divine. We asked the photographer to describe the process behind capturing this manatee and the role natural lighting played in enhancing its impact.

“That morning it was very cold in Florida. Indeed, there was a very cold wind all over the eastern USA. When we got to our little boat there was even frost on it. I never thought I would see frost in Florida. So we rushed to load all our gear onto the boat. We sailed the river looking for manatees. When we found some, we went into the water as gently and slowly as possible so as not to disturb them.

We swam slowly towards them and kept a sufficient distance. The light was indeed beautiful this morning, one like magic. A manatee saw me and came to me as if to look at what it was. I think this light brings hope for the conservation of this species and a very strong emotion. I even have a person who wrote to me that it was 'the sacred manatee'.”

#4 Female Fifty Fathoms Award, 1st Place Winner 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 free dive and capture the sublime beauty of their aquatic ballet."

#5 The Ocean Photographer Of The Year, 1st Place Winner 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 reminded me of a fairytale set on 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."

We were wondering what Sylvia’s opinion is on how photography can catalyze raising awareness about the conservation of marine mammals like manatees. Sylvia wrote: “Most humans are unaware of the animals that inhabit the oceans. Hundreds of manatees die every year in Florida. Either because they are injured by boats, or because they can’t find food because of the water pollution, etc…. I hope that awareness comes very quickly to better protect them. I know that already in Florida many people are fighting for their protection.”

#6 Fine Art Photographer Of The Year, 2nd Place Winner Alex Postigo

"Off Baja California Sur in Mexico, marlins annually congregate to feed on bait balls," says Postigo. "After they diminish the fish present in quick and elaborate hunting rituals, only scales are left. Here, a blue marlin swims beneath the ocean’s surface, fish scales - resembling a starry sky - raining down around it."

#7 Ocean Portfolio Award, 2nd Place Winner Renee Capozzola

"A young green sea turtle comes in close for a portrait in Maui, Hawaii where sea turtles thrive thanks to their strong legal protections," says Capozzola. "This image was taken at Mala Pier in Lahaina, which collapsed in 1992 during Hurricane Iniki and now serves as an underwater reef, encrusted with corals and providing a habitat for animals to rest, feed, and hide. Numerous turtles also frequent the area to get cleaned. This turtle is getting cleaned by two black tangs in the water column close to the surface."

And lastly, Sylvia shared challenges and memorable moments that she encountered while trying to capture this photo.

“The challenge was the icy wind that was blowing that weekend. I’m Swiss. I left my country for Florida in the winter. And I never thought I’d be able to live through that cold there. I didn’t bring warm enough clothes. Luckily under the water, it was okay. It was better than outside.”

#8 Conservation (Impact) Photographer Of The Year, 1st Place Winner 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."

#9 The Ocean Photographer Of The Year, 2nd Place Winner Andrei Savin

"Sea anemones and their symbiotic inhabitants are my favorite targets," says Savin. "A large anemone is like an apartment building with many different inhabitants establishing different relationships and relying on each other’s character. It's interesting to watch the same creatures day after day and I love to study them as they evolve. On this day I took dozens of shots of an anemone with different settings. Suddenly, as if by magic, a crab came out and sat right in the center. I just had to press the button."

#10 Conservation (Hope) Photographer Of The Year, 3rd Place Winner Gabriel Barathieu

"I wanted to take this perfectly mirrored picture for a while now," says Barathieu. "I already located the right spot for it, but had to wait for the great low tides which only occur two or three times a year. To create this mirror shot, I had to wait for all the ripples to fade. For that, it was necessary to move as little as possible. I had to completely exhale the air from my lungs so that I would sink without stirring up any sediment. I waited in expiratory apnea for at least a minute before taking the shot with a perfect angle of the camera."