Winners Gallery
Finalist Ocean Portfolio Award
Filippo Borghi Antarctica
“In the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean, just off the coast of Antarctica, I had the opportunity to capture a breathtaking encounter with one of the region's most formidable predators - the leopard seal,” says Borgi. “As an avid underwater photographer, I had long dreamed of documenting the elusive and powerful movements of this enigmatic marine mammal. As I submerged beneath the surface, the striking form of the seal came into view, its sleek, spotted coat and powerful jaws seemingly suspended in the crystalline waters. I held my breath, my heart racing with a mixture of awe and trepidation, as the seal approached, while its dark eyes were fixed on mine.”
All of Filippo's Collective Portfolio Award entry
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BEHIND THE LENS
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Sunny
- Site accessed by boat
- Taken while freediving
- Late morning
“During the annual sardine run off the coast of Baja California Sur in Mexico, I had the opportunity to witness and photograph an incredible natural spectacle,” remembers Borghi. “As I bobbed in the ocean, a massive school of silvery sardines suddenly materialised out of the blue, swirling and pulsating in unison. Hundreds of thousands of the small fish formed an undulating, shimmering baitball that stretched out as far as the eye could see. I frantically snapped photo after photo, trying to capture the mesmerising movements and patterns of the sardines as they fled from the predators hunting them from above and below. Sea lion, dorado, and diving seabirds all converged on the baitball, creating an underwater feeding frenzy. I had to be vigilant to avoid getting caught in the chaos as the sardines darted and flickered around me.”
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ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Sunny, calm seas
- Site accessed by kayak
- Taken while freediving
- Early morning
A fever of mobula rays in the waters off Cabo San Lucas in Baja California Sur, Mexico. “I had the opportunity to dive into the azure waters, where I was greeted by a mesmerising sight – a massive fever of these gentle animals glided effortlessly through the ocean currents,” says Borghi. “As I finned my way towards the mobulas, I was struck by their sheer size and grace. Their wide, winged bodies seemed to dance as they propelled themselves forward, their movements fluid and hypnotic.”
BEHIND THE LENS
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Cold and sunny
- Site accessed by boat
- Taken while scuba diving
- Mid-morning
“During a diving expedition, in the Tuscan Archipelago off Italy, I was able to capture some incredible footage of an anglerfish, also known as a monkfish or frogfish, preying on a torpedo ray,” says Borghi. “The anglerfish, with its large cavernous mouth and distinctive lure protruding from its head, was slowly swallowing the entire torpedo ray, which appeared to be quite a substantial meal for the predator.”
BEHIND THE LENS
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Sunny
- Calm sea, great visibility
- Taken while freediving
- Early afternoon
“In the pristine waters surrounding the volcanic island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean, a rare opportunity presented to me,” explains Borghi. “I had the chance to silently slip beneath the waves and witness the majestic beauty of a humpback whale and her newborn calf. With long, languid strokes, the humpback pair moved through the water, the calf occasionally breaking the surface to take a breath of air.”
BEHIND THE LENS
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Windy
- Taken during a blackwater dive at night
- Site accessed by boat
“Blackwater diving is a unique and exciting type of scuba diving that takes place in the open ocean during the night,” explains Borghi. “During black water dives, photographers descend into the pitch-black waters, often hundreds of feet deep, and encounter a diverse array of rare and bizarre pelagic creatures that migrate up from the deep ocean depths to the surface at night to feed. On such a dive in the Philippines, I observed the unique blackwater marine life which can be elusive and difficult to photograph. Suddenly, a transparent juvenile wonderpus showed up in front of my lens. I’d tried to capture pictures of this incredible animal for years!”
BEHIND THE LENS
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Cloudy
- Taken while scuba diving
- Morning
“As I descended beneath the waves, the vibrant coral reef came into view, teeming with a dazzling array of marine life. But it was a particular creature that caught my eye – the elusive and captivating Rhinopias scorpionfish,” says Borghi. “I manoeuvred gently, framing the shot with a back light to capture the fish’s striking features in all their glory – the intricate textures, the mesmerising colours, and the expressive eyes that seemed to peer into the very depths of the ocean.”
BEHIND THE LENS
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Windy
- Taken while scuba diving
- Early afternoon
- Site accessed by boat
The hidden wonders of the Mediterranean Sea. “Especially in its deeper regions, in an area known as the twilight or the mesophotic zone, an area between 30-150 metres (100-500 feet) depth, water conditions and ecosystems are quite different from the shallower areas,” explains Borghi. “Some key features of the Mediterranean twilight zone include unique coral and sponge communities and species adapted to the low light levels, including black corals, gorgonians, and large sponges and the beautiful basket star which can be seen on this photo. Exploring and photographing the Mediterranean twilight zone requires specialised diving equipment and training as the limited light, depth, and currents pose significant challenges for divers.”
BEHIND THE LENS
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Sunny
- Calm sea and good visibility
- Taken while scuba diving
- Late morning
“As I approached the seafloor during a deep diving expedition off Giglio Island in the Mediterranean, something caught my eye in the distance,” says Borghi. “Slowly swimming along the sandy bottom was a peculiar, leathery object. As I moved closer, I realised it was a small shark egg case, attached to a sea fan. Through the viewfinder, I could see the developing embryo inside, its tiny form barely visible through the translucent casing. I held my breath, mesmerised by this rare glimpse into the secret life of sharks. The egg case appeared to pulsate slightly, evidence of the young shark growing and developing within.”
BEHIND THE LENS
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Good visibility, calm sea and sunny
- Site accessed by boat
- Taken while freediving
- Afternoon
“Blue sharks are one of my favourite subjects because they tend to be so curious and gentle. When photographing them, it’s important to approach them cautiously and respectfully,” says Borghi. “One of the best locations to see them are the Azores. This individual came close to inspect my camera.”
BEHIND THE LENS
Filippo Borghi Italy
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Cloudy
- Taken while scuba diving
- Early morning
