Winners Gallery
Finalist Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Abdulaziz Al Saleh Kuwait
A male blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) displays his large claws above the water while protecting a female during mating in Kuwait’s Arabian Gulf. During reproduction, males guard females to reduce the risk of predation and competition. This split-level image was taken at sunrise in a shallow intertidal zone, where careful movement was essential to avoid disturbing the crabs. The female’s distinctively coloured claws and her still posture contrast with the male’s defensive display.
BEHIND THE LENS
Abdulaziz Al Saleh Kuwait
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Coastal walk-in
- Shot taken from the shoreline
- Nikon Z8, Nikon 8-15mm fisheye, Nauticam Housing, Inon Z330 strobe
- ISO 250, F14, 1/100s
Abdulaziz Al Saleh has been a diver and an underwater photographer for over 15 years. in 2020 his focus was put more into local sea exploration and documentation. he has gained the trust of many being a reliable source of local guide and information regarding marine species essential locations and marine biodiversity. He has recorded and photographed a new marine species in Kuwait, won major awards and has appeared in CNN, Skynews, and The Guardian. He has also appeared in local TV interviews and magazine articles.
