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Finalist Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year

Giancarlo Mazarese Philippines

13°45'40.0"N 120°55'16.1"E

"In the darkness of the open ocean at night, a tiny paper nautilus clings to a plastic bottle cap," says Mazarese. "In the wild, females of this species seek out floating organisms like jellyfish to hitch a ride and navigate the water column. But here, instead of a living creature, she finds only what humanity has discarded. This image, taken in Anilao, Philippines, reflects the silent impact of pollution and the resilience of marine life."

BEHIND THE LENS

Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025, GIAMAZ2

Giancarlo Mazarese Italy

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Clear sky, quarter moon
  • 8pm
  • Site accessed by boat
  • f/16, 1/320s, ISO 250

Giancarlo Mazarese is an underwater photographer driven by a lifelong passion for the ocean. After years as a project manager in real estate, he shifted paths and discovered diving in 2015, then underwater photography a year later. Since then, he's traveled extensively across the Mediterranean and tropics, capturing striking marine imagery in destinations like the Philippines, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Mexico. Giancarlo’s work has been featured in leading publications and recognised in international competitions.

IMAGES BY Giancarlo Mazarese