Winners Gallery
Finalist The Ocean Unseen: Hidden Worlds
Suliman Alatiqi Mawali, Bitung City, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
A male Banggai cardinalfish shelters newly hatched juveniles inside his mouth, continuing the parental care that follows a three-week incubation period. After hatching, the male may brood the young for another 10 days without feeding, protecting them from predators until they become more independent. This image captures two juveniles peering from their father’s mouth, revealing the specialised mouthbrooding strategy that helps this species increase the survival of its young.
BEHIND THE LENS
Suliman Alatiqi Kuwait
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Scuba, Boat
- Nikon D850 with Nauticam housing, 105mm macro lens, +6 Kraken diopter, Backscatter Mini Flash MF-2
- 1/250, f/20, ISO 1250
Suliman Alatiqi began underwater photography at 15 and now works as a photography instructor and marine project consultant. He was the production editor for Kuwait Under the Blue (2025) and has earned top honours in major international competitions. His work has appeared in CNN, BBC, The Guardian, and National Wildlife Magazine, gaining global recognition for its artistry and conservation impact.
