Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024, MICHAL30 - Oceanographic

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Finalist Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Michael Haluwana Svalbard, Norway

79°05'20.9"N 19°28'24.7"E

A group of walruses are resting on a beach, surrounded by snow-capped mountains. “I was on expedition in the Arctic for about a month and walruses were some of the marine mammals I was interested in,” remembers Haluwana. “I positioned myself within the allowed distance with my camera, waiting for an opportune photographic moment. Animals sense your presence whether you’re aware they do or not. In this moment, that’s exactly what happened. One walrus sat up looking towards me. Funnily enough, I had recently chipped my front tooth, as had this particular walrus. Maybe it sensed we were kin?”

BEHIND THE LENS

Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024, MICHAL30

Michael Haluwana Australia

  • Follow Michael On Instagram

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Sunny with calm winds and subtle cloud cover
  • Site accessed by expedition boat
  • Taken on land
  • Mid-morning

MORE IMAGES BY Michael Haluwana

WildlifePhotographer of the Year

2023 Greenland

Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023, MH2

WildlifePhotographer of the Year

2023 Arctic Ocean

Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023, MH

Fine ArtPhotographer of the Year

2023 Western Australia

Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the Year 2023, MH

Community ChoiceAward

2021 Western Australia

2021 Community Choice Award, Michael Haluwana

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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