Oceanographic Magazine (OM): You won second place in the 2021 overall Ocean Photographer of the Year category. Tell us a bit more about the background of the winning shot. How did it come about? Where was it taken? Any hardships taking it? What did you try to bring across with this image?

Henley Spiers (HS): My image was of northern gannets performing fishing dives, and it was taken in isles of Shetland, at the very northern tip of the UK. The water was a refreshing 8°C but once surrounded by these incredible seabirds any discomfort from the cold quickly evaporated. I remember when I was younger, my friends and I would test ourselves with hypothetical questions. A classic was: would you rather be able to fly like a bird? Or swim like a fish? Sadly that remains a strictly hypothetical equation for me, but in the case of gannets, they are masters of both air and sea. I hope that my image can translate how impressive and at ease these animals are as they pass from one element to the next.

OM: Any advice for people wanting to enter the Ocean Photographer of the Year competition?

HS: The Ocean Photographer of the Year has very rapidly become one of the most prestigious photography contests in the genre. In fact, it has opened up an arena to showcase forms of ocean photography which didn’t really have an obvious option in terms of competitions. For me, it’s one of the contests I intend to enter every year and I recommend it as an essential option for any other ocean photographers looking for a competitive outlet. As far as practical suggestions, make sure you are aware of the deadline for entries, and have a look at the awarded images from previous years. Although some judges and categories have changed, it will give you a feel for the type of images which are appreciated by OPA and what categories they should be entered to. On a philosophical note, take the results with a pinch of salt, all of us are destined to have more failures than successes in terms of images entered to contests and you have to be able to ride that emotional rollercoaster.