Winners Gallery
Finalist Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Ysabela Coll Magdalena Bay, Mexico
A shark’s severed head lies among seagrass in Baja California, Mexico, after the animal’s body was removed. Hundreds of similar remains were found along one beach, revealing the scale of shark exploitation in this region. The surrounding seagrass meadow is a reminder that even thriving marine habitats can exist alongside human pressures that threaten ocean wildlife.
BEHIND THE LENS
Ysabela Coll Dominican Republic
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Accessed by boat
- Taken while snorkelling
- Nikon D500 - Tokina 10-17 Fisheye lens - Nauticam housing - Inon Z330 strobes
- ISO 500, F/8, 1/800sec
Ysabela is an underwater photographer from the Dominican Republic who has been diving since childhood. Though she began her career as a psychologist, her passion for the ocean led her to study photography in Spain and co-found a conservation and fine art company alongside her mentor and stepfather. Her work captures not just the beauty of marine life but the emotional experience of being underwater. Through her images, Ysabela hopes to inspire a deeper love for nature and a shared commitment to protecting the ocean and the fragile ecosystems that connect us all.
