Winners Gallery

A Southern stingray patrols a healthy seagrass meadow in the Bahamas. “Seagrass beds are among the world’s most productive and ecologically important ecosystems, playing a pivotal role in mitigating climate change by capturing and storing carbon dioxide from our atmosphere at a rate much faster than forests,” explains Beca. “ I captured this image while freediving. That morning, the sunlight was stunning, casting ethereal beams through the water and perfectly illuminating the graceful stingray on patrol. I hope this image highlights the importance of these vital ecosystems and inspires efforts to protect them.”