Competitions
Prize-winning inspiration
We dive deep to bring you the best triumphant images from around the world, made by top photographers of land and sea
WORDS BY SAMARA HUSBANDS
Underwater Photographer of the Year
The Underwater Photographer of the Year contest celebrates the world beneath the surface of our oceans, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools. The first winner was named in 1965. Today, the competition is bigger than ever, attracting entries internationally; 2023 saw over 6000 images submitted from 72 countries. Kat Zhou’s captivating image of a pink river dolphin breaching the surface of the Amazon River was crowned this year’s winner. Chair of the competition judges, Alex Mustard, commented: “At first glance simple, then simply perfect. In dark, tannic waters, Kat has created a striking composition, capturing this rarely photographed and endangered species in a precision configuration. This is by far the best image we've ever seen of this species, whose numbers are declining at an alarming rate.”
HAVE A GO! › Open to All levels › 2024 closing date TBC
› 2023 entry cost £15, £30 or £40 to enter three, ten or 20 images across all categories › Website underwater photographeroftheyear.com
Ollie Clarke was awarded British Underwater Photographer of the Year, with his shot of a whale shark camouflaged within a bait ball of smaller fish. Alvaro Herrero won the Save Our Seas Foundation Marine Conservation award. His alarming image shows a starving humpback whale, unable to swim properly after having its tail broken.
ENDANGERED Award winners from 2023 capture incredible shots of rarely seen species residing in our planet’s boundless rivers and oceans
10 Photography News | Issue 105
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