16 Incredible Finalists From Ocean Photographer of the Year

Zack Morrison

The image is split into two photos. The left side shows two sea turtles swimming together against a black background. The right side depicts a tiny, bright yellow and orange octopus on a blue, textured surface with small orange dots.

The 2024 finalists for Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024 have been announced.

Judges have selected the top finalists for this year’s Ocean Photographer of the Year competition, and the shots are truly epic. From a turtle swimming against its own reflection just under the surface to a diver swimming alongside a wreckage, these photographs are stunning examples of the beauty that exists under the waves.

Oceanographic Magazine is giving away over $12,898 in cash and prizes (£10,000) for this year’s competition; the overall winner and top awards in each category will be announced next month.

Based on the quality of the finalists — a selection of which are featured below — this year’s winners are poised to be beautiful, much like last year’s.

Selected Finalists

Two young sea turtles with strikingly white shells swim together against a black background. The turtles appear to be in a synchronized motion, with their flippers extended and their heads pointed forward.
Jake Wilton, Papua New Guinea | Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024
A marine iguana partially submerged in water, with the top half of its body above the surface and the bottom half underwater. It's perched on dark volcanic rocks with a cloudy sky in the background. The image captures both the underwater and above-water environment.
Rafael Fernandez Caballero, Ecuador | Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024
A small jellyfish floats gracefully in dark water next to the large, slightly distorted reflection of what appears to be the moon or another bright object, creating a stark contrast between the transparent creature and the luminous reflection.
Henley Spiers, United Kingdom | Fine Art Photographer of the Year 2024
A black and white underwater photograph captures a humpback whale swimming with a smaller whale, likely its calf. Beams of light radiate through the water, illuminating the majestic pair and creating a serene, ethereal scene.
Renee Capozzola, French Polynesia | Fine Art Photographer of the Year 2024
A silhouette of a diver floats near the surface of a large, circular opening in the ice, viewed from below in the blue depths of the water. The ice edges create a textured border around the opening, with light streaming down from above.
Ben Yavar, Philippines | Adventure Photographer of the Year 2024
Aerial view of a surfer riding a large, powerful wave in deep blue ocean waters. The wave is cresting, with white foam spraying, and sunlit highlights creating a stunning contrast. The scene captures the energy and motion of surfing.
Sebastien Bachellereau, Australia | Adventure Photographer of the Year 2024
A polar bear stands on rocky terrain with a fish in its mouth. The bear's white fur contrasts with the grey rocks surrounding it. The scene captures a moment of the bear's natural hunting behavior in its arctic habitat.
Celia Kujala, Norway | Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year 2024
A large ray, or skate, is caught in a fishing net underwater. The net's mesh structure is visible, with light filtering through the ocean above, creating an eerie green glow. The ray appears motionless, trapped within the net's confines.
Joao Rodrigues, Portugal | Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year 2024
A stingray glides over a sun-dappled seabed covered in lush green seagrass, illuminated by rays of sunlight piercing the clear blue water from above.
Remuna Beca, The Bahamas | Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year 2024
Underwater photo showing two corals on the ocean floor, one on the left and one on the right, both emitting pinkish-purple spawn clouds into the dark blue water, suggesting the coral spawning process. The background is deep blue with a darkened sea surface above.
Tom Shlesinger, Israel | Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year 2024
A diver swims among a massive school of fish in the ocean. Sunlight penetrates the water, creating a vivid display of light and colors, casting an ethereal glow on the scene. The fish form swirling patterns around the diver, enhancing the underwater spectacle.
Yup Hongjun, Philippines | Human Connection Award 2024
Silhouettes of four people fishing on tall stilts against a serene beach with gentle waves during a vibrant sunset. Palm trees line the shore with the sky painted in hues of pink, purple, and gold, creating a calm and picturesque scene.
Ioannis Pavlos Evangelists, Sri Lanka | Human Connection Award 2024
A camouflaged fish with a yellow, wing-like structure above its eyes lies motionless on a rocky, sandy surface underwater. The intricate patterns on the fish's body blend seamlessly with the surrounding texture of the sand and rock.
Joao Pontes, Hawaii, USA | Young Photographer of the Year 2024
Two moray eels peek out from a rocky underwater crevice surrounded by seaweed and coral. They have elongated, yellowish-brown bodies with noticeable sharp teeth and appear to be facing each other amidst the marine vegetation.
Julian Jacobs, California, USA | Young Photographer of the Year 2024
A close-up underwater shot of a leopard seal with its mouth wide open, showcasing its sharp teeth. The background features murky water with hints of seaweed and rocks on the ocean floor. The seal's spotted skin and large eyes are also visible.
Filippo Borghi, Antarctica | Ocean Portfolio Award 2024
A tiny golden octopus, possibly an octopus larva, clings to the surface of a vibrant blue and orange siphonophore. The background is filled with a pattern of small, glowing blue and orange dots, creating an underwater glowing ambiance.
Katherine Lu, Philippines | Ocean Portfolio Award 2024

The top photographs from this year will be featured in gallery exhibitions around the world, as well as the hard copy of Oceanographic Magazine’s 2024 coffee table book. Other prizes are specific to the types of photographs themselves, like a thermal jacket for cold weather photography, or freediving fins for photographers who shoot with held-breath.

The overall winner and runners-up for the top prize, Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024, and the winner for each category will be announced on September 12th.

Image credits: Ocean Photographer of the Year by Oceanographic Magazine. Individual photographers are credited in the image captions.

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