Winners Gallery
Finalist Adventure Photographer of the Year
Romain Barats Dominica
"I've been fond of whales since my childhood, so I was really excited to get the opportunity to swim with sperm whales for the first time in my life," says Barats. "I was extremely lucky on my first day at sea. We saw 15 whales socialising for 45 minutes or so. The sea was rough but when you get to see something like that you quickly forget the conditions. There were three of us in the water, spread out due to the action. The whales began to move out when I suddenly saw my buddy freediving from afar. I managed to get a shot of him surrounded by whales."
BEHIND THE LENS
Romain Barats France
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Morning shoot
- Sunny
- Big swell
- 50m+ visibility
Romain is a medical doctor and award-winning photographer and cinematographer with a deep passion for nature and wildlife. His work has taken him to some of the planet’s most remote and challenging environments, where he has served as an underwater cameraman for acclaimed productions like Our Planet 2 (Netflix), Chasing Ocean Giants (Discovery+), and Patrick and the Whale (Emmy-nominated). These expeditions not only honed his visual storytelling skills but also connected him with expert local guides. Romain now shares his passion through his expedition company, The Wildlife Odyssey, offering immersive wildlife photography experiences to nature enthusiasts worldwide.
