Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 LIUXUZ6 - Oceanographic

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Finalist Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean

Liu Xuzhong Dongtai, Jiangsu

32° 47′ 42″ N 120° 31′ 08″ E

As the tide returns across the mudflats of the Yellow Sea, shellfish collectors make their way home carrying the morning’s harvest. The exposed seabed is difficult to cross, each step sinking into the soft mud, yet the fishermen walk together, talking as they go. This image celebrates the enduring connection between coastal communities and the rhythms of the sea, where daily life and livelihoods continue to be shaped by the rise and fall of the tide.

BEHIND THE LENS

Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 LIUXUZ6

Liu Xuzhong China

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Coastal Walk-in
  • Sony a7RM4,Sigma150-600mm/F5.6-8
  • ISO:160, f/4.2, 1/160 Sec,105mm

Liu Xuzhong is an avid photography enthusiast and currently holds memberships in the Xuzhou Photographers Association, Jiangsu Photographers Association, Image Copyright Society of China, Global Photographic Union (GPU) and the Royal Photographic Society (RPS). His photographic works have been selected and awarded in numerous domestic and international photography exhibitions and competitions.

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