Ocean Photographer of the Year 2022, BP

3rd place The Ocean Photographer of the Year

Brook Peterson United States

33°34'55.3"N 118°07'42.1"W

A cormorant and baitfish form the shape of a human face. "This image was made under the oil rig platform, Ellen, off Los Angeles, California," says photographer Brook Peterson. "There was a large school of baitfish under the platform for several weeks and, as a result, numerous other animals there to feed off the baitfish - sea lions, bonita, and cormorants. The image depicts a cormorant hunting through a large bait ball."