Winners Gallery
1st place Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Takumi Oyama Japan
"This photo shows the larval dispersal behaviour observed during the hatching of the yellow pigmy goby," says Oyama. "In gobiid fishes, male parental care is common, but unusually, in the yellow pigmy goby, females also participate in parental hatching care. This individual is a female, releasing newly hatched larvae into the water column from her mouth."
BEHIND THE LENS
Takumi Oyama Japan
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Night-time shoot
- 40 hours to capture this image
- Walk-in from beach
- F/11, 1/250s, ISO 80
Takumi Oyama is a marine researcher specializing in the reproductive ecology of fish, with a Ph.D. from Hiroshima University earned in March 2025. His work focuses on the behavioral ecology of reef fish in Japan, using scuba-based fieldwork to study marine life up close. Underwater photography plays a key role in his research and communication efforts, helping to share the beauty and complexity of fish behavior with broader audiences and to inspire appreciation for ocean ecosystems.
