Every year, the prestigious British competition « Underwater Photographer of the Year » highlights the beauty and diversity of the underwater world. The jury has just announced its winners for 2024. This year, Swedish photographer Alex Dawson clinched the title of « Underwater Photographer of the Year » with his shot of whale carcasses, captured beneath the ice cap in Greenland.
Since 1965, the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition, a British photography contest, has rewarded the most beautiful images captured beneath the surface of seas, oceans, lakes, or rivers worldwide. The jury has unveiled its 2024 winners across thirteen categories. This year, a captivating image of two whale carcasses lying at the bottom of the sea claimed the title. Titled « Whale Bones, » the photo was selected from among the 6,500 underwater photos submitted by photographers from around the globe. To capture this scene, Swedish photographer Alex Dawson had to free dive beneath the ice cap of Greenland.
Other winners
From animal photos to wreck shots, taken with wide-angle or close-up shots, the jury, composed of experts in underwater photography, rewarded a diverse range of images. They judged the submitted photographs based on criteria such as creativity, composition, lighting, and emotional impact. Here are some of the photos that impressed them this year.
American photographer Lisa Stengel was named « Up-and-Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 » for her most striking action shot of the contest, featuring a mahi-mahi catching a sardine in Mexico. (Photo: Lisa Stengel / UPY2024)
Portuguese photographer Nuno Sá was named « Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2024, » supported by the Save Our Seas Foundation, with his photo « Saving Goliath, » taken in Portugal. « It shows beachgoers trying to save a stranded sperm whale. A photo that gives us hope that people care about the oceans! » (Photo: Nuno Sá / UPY2024)
Jenny Stock was designated « British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 » for her stunning image « StarAttraction, » featuring a sea urchin and graphic stars, taken on the west coast of Scotland. (Photo: Jenny Stock / UPY2024)
In the « macro » category, Australian photographer Talia Greis, with an amazing seahorse shot, won the first prize. (Photo: Talia Greis / UPY 2024)
This « unusual spectacle of submerged war machines lying at depths of 15 to 28 meters and stationed along tactical combat formation reefs » in Jordan was captured by American photographer Martin Broen, earning him distinction in the « wrecks » category. (Photo: Martin Broen / UPY 2024)
This magnificent underwater portrait of synchronized swimmers was part of a series to be exhibited this summer by Australian photographer Jasmine Skye Smith. It earned her the first prize in the « black and white » category. (Photo: Jasmine Skye Smith / UPY 2024)
German photographer Enrico Somogyi secured the first place (and the second as well) in the « compact » category with this image taken in Indonesia, showcasing a perfectly lit emperor shrimp. (Photo: Enrico Somogyi / UPY 2024)
This photo, taken during a diving trip with northern gannets in the Shetland Islands, earned American photographer Kat Zhou the first prize in the « wide angle in British waters » category. (Photo: Kat Zhou / UPY 2024)
This butterfly blenny taking refuge in a bottle charmed British photographer Kirsty Andrews and the contest jury, earning her the first prize in the « British waters, living together » category. (Photo: Kirsty Andrews / UPY 2024)
British photographer Jon Bunker managed to immortalize this catshark amidst underwater grass before it disappeared. It earned him the spotlight and the first prize in the « British waters, compact camera » category. (Photo: Jon Bunker / UPY 2024)
More whales, stars of this edition
Whales seem to have dominated this year’s winning photos. In addition to Alex Dawson’s main shot, the jury also recognized the work of Spanish photographer Rafael Fernandez Caballero, a well-known contestant who was the grand winner in 2022. This year, the professional clinched first place in two categories with revealing photos of these ocean giants: a close-up of a gray whale’s eye and an action shot of a Bryde’s whale engulfing a bait ball, both taken in Mexico.
Due to warmer waters caused by the El Niño climatic phenomenon, the number of species present in Mexican waters was higher than usual, offering a very attractive bait for predators. Spanish photographer Rafael Fernandez Caballero managed to capture this impressive scene of a Bryde’s whale hunting. A shot rewarded in the « behavior » category. (Photo: Rafael Fernandez Caballero / UPY 2024)
« Encounters with gray whales in the saltwater lagoons of the Pacific are very special. Known for their friendly and curious nature, gray whales often approach boats, allowing observers to witness funny behaviors like this spying scene. » It earned Spanish photographer Rafael Fernandez Caballero
Two French photographers awarded
Among the 6,500 shots sent from around the world to the contest organizers, those of two French photographers stood out this year.
The French photographer reached the third spot on the podium for the title of Underwater Photographer of the Year, for his shot of a shark captured after « a lot of patience and luck » in the waters of the Bahamas. (Photo: Rodolphe Guignard / UPY 2024)
« The perfect composition with beautiful surface reflections and textures on the dolphins » impressed the jury, awarding the 3rd place to French photographer Serge Malesan in the « black and white » category. (Photo: Serge Melesan / UPY 2024)
