Winners Gallery
Finalist Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Vanessa Torres Macho Sydney, Australia
"Astrid, the woman in the image, has recently started her underwater journey," says Torres Macho. "She’s passionate about anything related to the ocean and this year, for her birthday, she wanted some images of her in the water. In Sydney we’re extremely lucky to have access to incredible beaches and dive sites with fantastic wildlife. Clovelly Pool is a renowned location to locals and tourists who want to see the famous blue groupers. Just as we were heading out this big male decided to investigate what we were doing."
BEHIND THE LENS
Vanessa Torres Macho Spain
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Morning shoot
- Calm conditions
- 12-metre visibility
- Coastal walk-in
Vanessa is an underwater and wildlife photographer with a passion for marine life, seascapes, shipwrecks, commercial and fashion photography. Over the past 19 years, she has travelled the world as a dive instructor before eventually settling in Sydney, where she now runs Aquatic Imaging Australia, an underwater photography business based in Bondi. Vanessa is an avid photographer, and when she´s not exploring Sydney’s local dive sites, she is usually travelling around Australia or overseas in search of the next incredible photographic opportunity. She´s been fortunate to experience some of the world’s most remarkable underwater destinations, including some of my favourites such as the Revillagigedo Islands, Egypt, the Galápagos, Fuvahmulah, Canada, and Spain, with many more still on the list.
IMAGES BY Vanessa Torres Macho
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
2026 Tufi, Papua New Guinea
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.