Winners Gallery
Finalist Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Leighton Lum Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
A Hawaiian monk seal rests with her week-old pup on Kaimana Beach in Waikīkī. Mothers nurse their pups for around six weeks without feeding, losing up to a third of their body weight while the pup grows rapidly before becoming independent. Despite choosing one of Hawaiʻi's busiest beaches to raise her pup, Kaiwi has successfully raised several pups here. It does however require the support of conservation teams and volunteers – DLNR enforcement, NOAA and volunteer groups coordinating barriers and round-the-clock patrols to ensure that tourists and locals wouldn't get too close during such a sensitive window.
BEHIND THE LENS
Leighton Lum United States (US)
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Taken on the beach
- Canon R5 500 F4
- ISO 3200 F4 shutter speed 1/1250
Leighton Lum is a wildlife and underwater photographer based on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, working as a photo instructor with Art of Seeing Photography Adventures. For nearly ten years, he has taught photography and led workshops and expeditions around the world, helping others learn to see and capture the natural world. He has a great passion for the ocean, which drives much of his own work, from the reefs and shorelines of Hawaiʻi to marine life around the globe. Through his images, he hopes to raise awareness of the species he photographs and the conservation challenges they face, and to inspire others to care about protecting them.
IMAGES BY Leighton Lum
Conservation (Hope)Photographer of the Year
2026 Hawaii, USA
Reconnect. Immerse yourself. Be inspired.
Enjoy the vibrancy, beauty and impact of each year's finalist photography, celebrated in our Ocean Photographer of the Year coffee table book collection.
