Winners Gallery
Finalist Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Richard Smith USA
"After years of studying the true pygmy seahorses, I finally encountered this dwarf seahorse during some down time at a Florida conference," says Smith. "Although their conservation status is ‘Least Concern’, few people see them in the wild due to their incredible camouflage. The true pygmies have several adaptations for life in miniature and although Hippocampus zosterae is equally small it doesn’t share these extreme specialisations. Endemic to Florida and Gulf of Mexico waters, these tiny seahorses require a keen eye to locate. I found a pair thriving in 1-2 feet of water. This female was accompanied by her pregnant male partner, but only her colour matched the emerald green Halimeda algae she was clinging to."
BEHIND THE LENS
Richard Smith United Kingdom (UK)
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- 30 hours of searching
- Shore dive
- 1m visibility
- f/13, 1/160s, 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
Conservation (Impact)Photographer of the Year
2025 Papua New Guinea
