Winners Gallery
Finalist Exploration Photographer of the Year
Matty Smith Australia
A Southern Bobtail Squid puts on a performance. “When I came across this Southern Bobtail Squid it seemed to take interest in its reflection in my camera lens port and began to dance with this curious and colourful display,” says photographer Matty Smith. “‘I’ve only witnessed this behaviour a couple of times in several years of diving at this spot, but on this occasion I managed to capture it before the animal vanished into the night.”
BEHIND THE LENS
Matty Smith United Kingdom (UK)
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Taken at night
- Captured while scuba diving
- High tide
- Shot at a depth of just 3m
Matty Smith is an internationally acclaimed ocean and underwater photographer whose award-winning images reveal the beauty, mystery and fragility of the natural world. Originally from the UK and now based in Australia, he has spent decades documenting marine wildlife, from tropical reefs to the icy waters of Antarctica. His work has been featured by the BBC, National Geographic and leading international publications, and exhibited worldwide. A Nikon Australia and Aquatica ambassador, Matty is passionate about inspiring ocean conservation through powerful visual storytelling, while leading immersive photography expeditions that connect people with some of the planet's most extraordinary marine environments.
MORE IMAGES BY Matty Smith
WildlifePhotographer of the Year
2026 Falkland Islands
Conservation (Hope)Photographer of the Year
2024 Sydney, Australia
Reconnect. Immerse yourself. Be inspired.
Enjoy the vibrancy, beauty and impact of each year's finalist photography, celebrated in our Ocean Photographer of the Year coffee table book collection.