The 2022 winners of theOcean Photographer Of The Yearcompetition have been announce , convey to promiscuous arresting shots that demonstrate both the exponent , frangibility , and foreign nature of our oceans ’ ecosystem . Hosted in by Oceanographic Magazine , the competition direct to celebrate the wildlife and organisms that keep the sea healthy while at the same time highlighting the many troth they face up .
Each year , Ocean Photographer Of The Year invites camera - happy people from across the world to posit their marinephotography . With categories symbolize the impingement and promise surrounding conservation issues , as well as catch our human connection with the sea , the 2022 competition is as breathtaking as ever .
Here are a few of our favorites .
Ben Thouard’s surfer battle was the overall winner. Image credit: Ben Thouard, Ocean Photographer Of The Year
Overall Winner – Ben ThouardA surfer struggle with the underwater turbulency created by the “ heaviest wave in the world ” in Teahupo’o , which translates as " place of skulls" . French Polynesia
Surfers will relate to this year ’s winning image , which shows someone who ’s been wiped out being pushed beneath one of the heaviest wave in the world . " This is the unobserved part of surfing , " say photographer Ben Thouard . " I have so much respect for both the undulation and the surfers – surfing such a wakeless wave is a huge challenge . "
Second piazza – Katherine LuA blanket devilfish show off its beautiful patterns and colors . Philippines
Don’t be fooled by its beauty. The blanket octopus packs an unusual shiv in the form of an amputated tentacle stolen from a toxic jellyfish. Image credit: Katherine Lu, Ocean Photographer Of The Year
Ablanket octopuswas first seen alive by Dr Julian Finn of Museums Victoria , who say the coinage “ illustrate the most extreme object lesson of intimate size dimorphism in a non - microscopical creature . ” A good decimal point well made , it has to be aver , considering that while an grownup female can be around two meters long ( 6.6 foot ) , the male person sits at a paltry 2.4 centimeters ( 0.9 column inch ) constituting the largest sex size discrepancy in the animal realm .
" I was very sick during this dive , " sound out second - place photographer Katherine Lu . " I spent a lot of fourth dimension trying to equalise near the surface . When my guide frantically point for me to add up down I hesitated for second , but went for it , pushing myself down . Luckily my ears equalised and there before my center was this beautiful cover octopus . We swam alongside her and then , like thaumaturgy , she open up her mantle to show herself in all her resplendency . "
Wildlife highly commend – Massimo ZanniniA goof fish feed in shallow water . Italy
Whatever you do, don’t call it a wobbegong. Image credit: Massimo Zannini, Ocean Photographer Of The Year
Fans of Pisces Twitter may recall theGreat Goose Fish Wobbegong Scandal of 2021when a viral Tweet was held to report by the aggrieved wobbegong residential area for wrongly ID’ing what looked like a potato that had been mashed on the seafloor . The tasseley animal in question was in fact a cuckoo fish , not a wobbegong , which is the same fauna that earned Zannini a spot in the Wildlife finalist .
" For the rest of the twelvemonth it lives at near abyssal profoundness , " Zannini enunciate . " This portrait render the Pisces the Fishes opening its mouth to capture a meal . "
preservation ( Impact ) highly commend – André MusgroveA woman lies on the sea bottom , surrounded by sherd of a all in coral Witwatersrand . Bahamas
Dead coral is an unfortunately common sight in our oceans. Image credit: André Musgrove, Ocean Photographer Of The Year
As an subaquatic cameraman , lensman , previous Ocean Photography Awards judge , professionalfreediver , and underwater stunt performing artist , it ’s hard to stamp André Musgrove . In his prevalent role as an subaquatic photographer and cinematographer , Musgrove uses imagination to capture unequaled shots which tell a story .
" This photograph shows how we have become engulfed by our own destruction as a result of pitiable climate change exercise , " say Musgrove of his highly recommend shot . " I wanted to make for attention to the outlet of coral reef death due to both rude and human causes . With the rise of climate change , nations like The Bahamas have become more and more susceptible to stronger hurricanes that have work havoc on Bahamian islands . "
Female Fifty Fathoms Award – Brooke PykePortfolio . Western Australia
How many sea snakes can you see? Image credit: Brooke Pyke, Ocean Photographer Of The Year
Among photographer Brooke Pyke ’s winning portfolio is this confusing stroke of what take care like a knot of ocean serpent . Peer a footling nearer and you may be able to discern that it is , in fact , two Stokes ’s ocean snakes mating . Pyke found the duad in waters off Western Australia , a photographing ground where she also snap impressive image of manta beam , whale shark , and humpback whale .
Adventure highly commended - Brandi MuellerA diver descends into the cryptic , light ray of light as their guide . Yucatan Peninsula , Mexico
" The massive sunray filtering into Cenote Azul Ha on this day were strong enough to ignite a diver and the cavern walls , " say lensman Brandi Mueller . " The clarity of the pee makes it look as if the diver is floating in air , pilot next to the illumination . "
Light cutting through the water of a cenote makes for an otherworldly scene. Image credit: Brandi Mueller, Ocean Photographer Of The Year
you could learn more about the cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsula in next month ’s issue ofCURIOUS , IFLScience ’s free e - powder store .
See more of the win guessing and finalists on theOcean Photographer Of The Year 2022 ’s website , or find out more about the complexity of submersed picture taking from National Geographic adventurer Bertie Gregory .
