Winners Gallery
3rd place Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Sirachai Arunrugstichai Rayong, Thailand
A response team in PPE cleans oil-contaminated sand along a beach hit by an oil spill in Rayong, Thailand in 2022. "Thailand's Pollution Control Department reported that a conservatively estimated 180,000 to 200,000 litres of crude oil were released from a pipeline spill off the shore of Rayong," says Arunrugstichai. "Some subsequent leaks in unknown quantities were also detected throughout the following week. Although the crude oil was cleared off by physical labour and chemical dispersant, the long-term impact on the marine environment is unknown and is still being monitored."
BEHIND THE LENS
Sirachai Arunrugstichai Thailand
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Respirator required due to stench of oil
- Afternoon shoot
- Dropped at location by a researcher
- Strong winds
Sirachai “Shin” Arunrugstichai is a Thai photojournalist and marine biologist focused on marine conservation and humanity’s complex relationship with the ocean. An Associate Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, a National Geographic Explorer and a Vital Impacts' Sylvia Earle Grant recipient, Shin’s work spans from environmental crises to social issues. His images have appeared in National Geographic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian, often through his role with Getty Images. When not in the field, Shin contributes to shark and ray research in Southeast Asia as a co-founder of Thai Sharks and Rays, a collaborative marine science initiative.
MORE IMAGES BY Sirachai Arunrugstichai
Conservation (Hope)Photographer of the Year
2025 Thailand
Conservation (Hope)Photographer of the Year
2025 Thailand
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
2025 Taiwan
Conservation (Impact)Photographer of the Year
2024 Myeik Archipelago, Myanmar
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
2023 Rayong, Thailand
Conservation (Impact)Photographer of the Year
2023 Myeik, Myanmar
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.