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Finalist Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Andrea Michelutti Philippines

13°45'25.2"N 120°55'06.3"E

A scorpionfish consumes a lizardfish in a moment of hunting behaviour, revealing the constant balance between survival and vulnerability on coral reefs. The compact composition isolates the interaction using a snoot to direct light onto the two fish while keeping the background subdued. The position of both animals makes the behaviour immediately visible, showing the scorpionfish’s feeding strategy and the brief, powerful encounters that shape life on the reef.

BEHIND THE LENS

Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026, ANDMIC12

Andrea Michelutti Italy

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Shot while scuba diving
  • Site accessed via boat
  • Sony Rx100, Marelux housing, Marelux Apollo S strobes
  • ISO 160, f-11, 1/500

Born in the northeast of Italy, where he earned a master's degree in economics, Andrea Michelutti lives and works in his home region as an entrepreneur and car dealership owner. A passionate traveler, he has always focused on the synergy between landscapes and local populations to translate his unique idea of "traveling" into striking images. Since 2018, he has dedicated himself to underwater photography, seeking deep empathy with marine inhabitants. Through the sea and its creatures, he perfectly expresses his natural aptitude for color. Brand Ambassador for Marelux and Ultralight, he shoots with a compact Sony RX100 VII camera.

MORE IMAGES BY Andrea Michelutti