Winners Gallery
Finalist Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Richard Smith Papua New Guinea
"After 25 years, I returned to Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, remembering its incredible corals and biodiversity," says Smith. "Tragically, our first dive revealed the worst coral bleaching I'd ever witnessed. Creating compelling imagery that illustrates bleaching's impact while remaining visually engaging proves challenging. I discovered this endemic Melanesian Blue Devil damselfish, found only in Papua New Guinea, living around a small branching coral colony that had bleached. We rarely consider how bleaching devastates species like these, which depend entirely on healthy coral habitats. This image captures their story - beautiful fish persisting amid environmental catastrophe, representing countless species facing similar threats worldwide."
BEHIND THE LENS
Richard Smith United Kingdom (UK)
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- 30 degrees Celsius water temperature
- Taken while scuba diving
- Site accessed by boat
- f/7.1, 1/125s, ISO 100
Dr Richard Smith is a British marine biologist, conservationist, and award-winning underwater photographer who is the world's leading authority on pygmy seahorses. He earned his PhD in 2011 as the first person to complete biological research focused entirely on these diminutive fishes and has since discovered multiple new species including pygmy seahorses from Japan and South Africa. Richard serves as Species Focal Point for Pygmy Seahorses within the IUCN Seahorse, Pipefish and Seadragon Specialist Group and is author of the bestselling popular science and underwater natural history book "The World Beneath." His work combines scientific discovery with conservation education through photography, writing, and leading research expeditions worldwide.
IMAGES BY Richard Smith
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.
