Winners Gallery

“This image of a mother and calf humpback whale was shot off Tahiti where these whales migrate to from Antarctica to mate and give birth,” explains Capozzola. “I was privileged to swim with these beautiful creatures which almost became extinct in the 1980s. As I waited on the surface for the whales to ascend nearby, these two then rose directly underneath me through the sun’s bright rays, creating a heavenly scene. Normally, I shoot my camera upwards, but here I shot downwards to capture the sun’s rays contrasting through the water and illustrate the respective sizes of mother and calf.”