Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025, NATCHA2

3rd place Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean

Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn Vietnam

15°32'55.5"N 108°35'15.1"E

"Each morning before sunrise at Tam Tien beach, the shoreline comes alive with a flurry of activity," says Chaturapitamorn. "Clusters of wooden fishing boats anchor offshore, forming a floating fleet. From there, teams of fishermen in round basket boats skillfully navigate through the waves, ferrying barrels of freshly caught seafood to the shore. On the beach, families of fishermen and wholesale traders wait eagerly, ready to sort and purchase the catch. The seafood is quickly loaded into baskets and rushed off to markets throughout the province. This daily ritual reflects the deep connection between the sea and coastal livelihoods."

BEHIND THE LENS

Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025, NATCHA2

Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn Thailand

ABOUT THE IMAGE

5am
Calm seas
Accessed on foot
F/4.5, 1/15s, ISO 500

Natnattcha is an award-winning travel photographer specialising in environmental portraits. Her photographic journey has earned her international acclaim across multiple prestigious platforms. In 2020, she won the Travel category of the Smithsonian Photo Contest. In 2024, her work was recognised at the Siena Photo Awards, where her images were honoured as remarkable artworks in the Nature and Travel category. That same year, she also won the prestigious Food Photo Award in the “Bring Home the Harvest” category. Most recently, in 2025, she was named the winner of the Portraits category at the 35th Memorial Maria Luisa Photo Contest, marking another milestone in her photographic journey.