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Finalist Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean

Max Holba Cebu, Philippines

9°27'43.6"N 123°22'48.1"E

"The whale sharks that swim and feed in close proximity to the boats of local fishers are now a tourist attraction in Oslob in the Philippines," says Holba. "For years, this kind of tourism has been very controversial: While it enables the local community to have a steady income and presents them with an alternative to killing the animals for their meat and fins, the ever increasing amount of people that get too close to the animals is a worrying development."

BEHIND THE LENS

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean 2023, MH2

Max Holba Austria

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Coastal walk-in
  • Taken on scuba equipment
  • Early morning shoot
  • Sunny conditions

Max is an Austrian underwater photographer and dive resort manager whose passion for the ocean began at age 10. Despite growing up in a landlocked country, his early fascination with the underwater world led him to pursue SCUBA diving and eventually photography to share its beauty. Now based in Indonesia as a co-owner of Alami Alor, Max founded the Alor Photo Academy to teach underwater photography and tell ocean stories. Through his imagery and education work, he aims to inspire a deeper connection to the sea and empower the next generation of ocean advocates.

MORE IMAGES BY Max Holba