Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean 2023, MH2 - Oceanographic
  • Shop
  • News
  • Stories
  • Podcast
  • Spotlight
  • Storyteller in Residence
  • Ocean Photographer of the Year
  • LOG IN
  • Search
OG_newissueCOVER_master_DIGITAL_newsize_42
  • Seahorse sanctuary
  • Dive in
Oceanographic Logo
  • Conservation
  • Adventure
  • Exploration
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Magazine
  • Read
    • Stories
    • News
    • Storyteller in residence
    • Spotlight
  • Listen
  • Shop
  • Ocean Photographer of the Year

Winners Gallery

<< Back to WINNERS GALLERY
  • Previews
  • 1st
  • 2nd
  • 3rd
  • 02
  • 04
  • 05
  • 06
  • 07
  • 08
  • 09
  • 10
  • 12
  • Next

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

  • Follow Max On Instagram

ABOUT THE IMAGE

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

MORE IMAGES BY Max Holba

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean

2023 East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean 2023, MH

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean

2022 Indonesia

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean, 2022, MH

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.

Shop_otherproductsHEADER_OPYbook2023_no shadow
Add to cart Buy now

Newsletter

Receive the latest from Oceanographic and get 10% off your first order.

footer Photographer logo
  • Home page
  • OPY
  • Stories
  • Magazine
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Shop
  • News
  • Faqs
  • Legal
  • Read for free
  • Stockists

Copyright © 2025 CXD MEDIA LTD.

All rights reserved

Enjoy 30% off your first year when joining as an annual digital subscriber!

Subscribe