IN PHOTOS – The Underwater Photography Guide has revealed the winners of the 13th edition of its underwater photography competition, with photographers sharing the stories behind their stunning shots.
The prestigious Ocean Art underwater photography contest, organized by the Underwater Photography Guide, has announced its 2024 winners. Photographer Eduardo Labat captured the jury’s attention with his breathtaking image of whitetip sharks in Mexico.
In total, 14 categories were awarded, showcasing fascinating macro shots, marine births, and spectacular wide-angle images of cenotes and reefs. The winning photographs highlight the beauty, fragility, and diversity of underwater ecosystems while inspiring global conservation efforts. « These images do more than win awards—they capture hearts and minds, reach millions worldwide, and remind us of our shared responsibility to protect the ocean’s beauty, » said Nirupam Nigam, contest organizer and editor-in-chief of the Underwater Photography Guide.
The 15 Award-Winning Photos
Overall Winner: Eduardo Labat.
« At Roca Partida (Mexico), most whitetip sharks gather in small groups around rocky formations. One afternoon, a large number of sharks started arriving. They weren’t hunting or displaying any aggressive behavior. That’s when I captured this photo. From above, the sharks appeared to swim in synchronized, circular movements. It was mesmerizing to watch. »
Wide-Angle Category Winner: Hwanhee Kim.
« Light is nature’s most beautiful gift. The week before I took this photo, heavy rains fell in Cancun, Mexico. Sediments and nutrients from the area were washed into the cenote, creating astonishing colors. Rain is usually a challenge in underwater photography, but in this case, it produced vibrant hues. Sunlight, with its strong vitality, pierced the reddish waters, revealing a magical moment. »
Macro Category Winner: Adam Martin.
« This young batfish was found at a depth of 25 meters in Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia. I used a snoot (light modifier) to direct the flash towards it without overexposing the background. The lighting highlights the texture and structure of the fish’s body, emphasizing its graceful lines and vibrant coloration. »
Marine Life Behavior Category Winner: Yoichi Sato.
« I was fortunate to capture the unforgettable moment of a tiny creature hatching. On a summer night, while most animals were deeply asleep, a male Ostorhinchus properuptus gathered all its energy and, with a trembling movement, released a swarm of larvae from its mouth. At the moment of hatching, I used red lighting with a special setting to avoid disturbing the animal. »
Portrait Category Winner: Stefano Cerbai.
« I was on my honeymoon in Australia, and among the many incredible places we visited, there was the south, where I had the chance to dive and search for the elusive sea dragon, an animal I had dreamed of seeing for years. I was incredibly lucky not only to find and observe it but also to photograph it, with its eggs, which it was protecting on its back near its tail. It was an unforgettable experience. »
Cold Water Category Winner: James Emery.
« During a dive in Monterey (California), I was photographing Metridium fields when I noticed a cormorant swimming toward us. To my surprise, it began pecking at my wife’s head. I quickly swam over to take a few photos, and then the cormorant’s attention shifted to the reflection of my camera dome. It stayed with us for about 20 minutes, coming up to breathe before returning to observe us again. It was a unique moment. »
Nudibranchs Category Winner: Borut Furlan.
« It was during my first visit to Vancouver Island, Canada, in October. I didn’t know much about the region. So, when I reached the kelp forest with hooded nudibranchs, I was simply stunned. I had never seen so many nudibranchs in one place. There were thousands of them, everywhere—on the bottom, on the kelp, suspended in the water. I took hundreds of different shots, and this one is part of that series. »
Dark Water Category Winner: Kyungshin Kim.
« I took this photo during a night dive in Anilao (Philippines) last November. At first, I noticed two squids sticking together, and I thought they were mating. However, upon closer inspection, I realized they weren’t mating: one of the squids was eating the other. Squids are known to engage in cannibalism, but it’s rare to see small specimens eating each other during a dive. I followed and observed them closely. After about ten minutes, the color of the smaller squid, which was being consumed, started to fade. »
Underwater Conservation Category Winner: Kimber Greenwood.
« This image was created as part of an awareness project for the Florida Springs Council about the impact of bottled water production on local springs. Over 300 bottles of water are produced every minute in these bottling plants. Not only do the bottles end up in landfills and introduce microplastics into our environment, but bottling spring water leads to a depletion of Florida’s aquifer. The snowball effect: this results in the deterioration of springs and rivers. »
Underwater Digital Art Category Winner: Unkoo Kim.
« The sea of Seogwipo (South Korea) is a place close to my heart. However, it’s far from being an ideal environment for underwater photography. The water is often murky, and the currents are strong. I wondered how I could take photos that truly capture the beauty of the marine creatures inhabiting these waters. The idea of using light as a background to highlight these creatures came to my mind. I then spent countless hours approaching a Ptereleotris hanae. I imagined a dynamic interaction of this fish with bokeh lights and a vintage lens. »
Underwater Fashion Category Winner: Lucie Drlikova.
« This photo is part of my personal project ‘Once Upon a Dream in Waterland,’ which I have been working on for seven years. I was inspired by the Snow White fairy tale. It represents a return to my childhood dreams. All the costumes and accessories were handmade by me. »
Wide Angle, Compact Camera Category Winner: Marco Lausdei.
« We are at one of the most famous night diving sites in the world: Maaya Thila (Maldives). I noticed a white-tip reef shark moving in a cyclical pattern, clearly attracted by a cloud of silvery fish. I tried to approach without disturbing its predator behavior. Once the shark became accustomed to my presence, I waited for one of its movements to bring it into the flash range. Understanding the habits and behavior of my subject was key to capturing this shot. »
Macro, Compact Camera Category Winner: Naomi Springett.
« For my honeymoon, I went on a diving cruise in the Great Barrier Reef. Perched proudly on the coral (Tubastraea micranthus), this longnose hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) wasn’t too bothered by my presence and, much to my delight, stayed still long enough for me to take a few photos. »
Behavior, Compact Camera Category Winner: Naomi Springett.
« This cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) and lizardfish (Synodus variegatus) were spotted among the coral of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. These fish are an example of symbiosis. The former nibbles dead skin and parasites off the larger one, providing it with food and, in turn, keeping the latter fish healthy. Usually, lizardfish are quite nervous, not tolerating photographers getting too close, but this individual was more than happy to pose for the photos. »
Symbiosis, Great Barrier Reef.
Source: parismatch
