Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023, HS - Oceanographic
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Finalist Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Henley Spiers Baja California Sur, Mexico

24°35'54.9"N 110°24'18.0"W

"In early autumn, vast sardine shoals surround the rocks at Los Islotes," says Spiers. "This bounty attracts seabird predators. As we dived amidst the shoal, the peace was occasionally shattered by the loud crashes of pelicans, cormorants, and boobies hurtling underwater in pursuit of a meal. Most of the time, the action is so swift that by the time you turn to see it the bird is already back at the surface. Predicting exactly where an attack will happen is impossible, and yet I dreamed of capturing this spectacular natural act. Picking a single spot amidst the sardines, I waited patiently as the sunset approached, hoping to get lucky. After a long wait, a crash came down close to my right hand side, spinning around and clicking the camera instinctively, I finally captured the elusive shot of a blue-footed booby rising up with a sardine in its beak."

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BEHIND THE LENS

Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023, HS

Henley Spiers United Kingdom (UK)

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ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Sunny conditions
  • Sunset shoot
  • 20-metre visibility
  • Site accessed by boat

Henley Spiers, half British and half French, is a renowned photographer, writer, and trip leader who has fast become one of the most highly decorated underwater wildlife shooters in the world. Henley is perhaps best known for his black and white imagery, showcasing the beauty of the aquatic world with distinctive minimalism. Fine art prints of his work now adorn walls around the globe.

MORE IMAGES BY Henley Spiers

Conservation (Hope)Photographer of the Year

2024 The Maldives

Ocean Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year 2024, HENSPI4

Fine ArtPhotographer of the Year

2024 Baja California Sur, Mexico

Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the Year 2024, HENSPI19

Fine ArtPhotographer of the Year

2024 Devon, England

Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the Year 2024, HENSPI21

Fine ArtPhotographer of the Year

2023 Isle of Noss, Scotland

Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the Year 2023, HS

Conservation (Hope)Photographer of the Year

2023 Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Hope) 2023, HS

Collective Portfolio Award

2020 Philippines

2020 Collective Portfolio Award, runner-up, Henley Spiers

ConservationPhotographer of the Year

2021 Mexico

2021 CPoY finalist, Henley Spiers

ConservationPhotographer of the Year

2021 Scotland

2021 CPoY finalist, Henley Spiers

The OceanPhotographer of the Year

2021 Scotland

2021 OPoY runner-up, Henley Spiers

ExplorationPhotographer of the Year

2020 Philippines

2020 EPoY finalist, Henley Spiers

ConservationPhotographer of the Year

2020 Philippines

2020 CPoY finalist, Henley Spiers

ConservationPhotographer of the Year

2020 Philippines

2020 CPoY finalist, Henley Spiers

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.

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