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Finalist Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year

Henley Spiers Raja Ampat, Indonesia

2°14'40.2"S 130°33'22.1"E

"Misool Eco Resort was built on an island previously occupied by shark-finning fishermen," says Spiers. "Today, the resort funds and manages the protection of a 300,000 acre marine reserve in its surrounding waters, including 15 full-time rangers. The result has been astonishing, with a 250% average increase in biomass inside the reserve over a six year period. This marine conservation success story is even more heartening as it has occurred within the Coral Triangle - the most biodiverse location in our ocean. This image depicts the healthy biomass."

BEHIND THE LENS

Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Hope) 2023, HS

Henley Spiers United Kingdom (UK)

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Taken while snorkelling
  • Coastal walk-in
  • Cloudy, warm conditions
  • Late afternoon shoot

Henley Spiers is an award-winning underwater photographer, storyteller, and expedition leader, widely recognised as one of the leading voices in contemporary ocean photojournalism. Henley combines technical skill with a storyteller’s eye to create images that reflect both the wonder and vulnerability of the natural world. In recognition of his narrative approach, he was named the first-ever Storyteller in Residence for Oceanographic Magazine. He was named Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the Year (2024) and awarded the Grand Prize at HIPA (2022). His portfolio also includes major honours from the Nature Photographer of the Year, Environmental Photography Award, European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, as well as the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year. His photography has been widely published, including in National Geographic, The Sunday Times, Der Spiegel, The Economist, BBC Wildlife Magazine, and The Guardian.

MORE IMAGES BY Henley Spiers