Winners Gallery
2nd place The Ocean Photographer of the Year
Jade Hoksbergen Isle of Noss, Shetland Islands
A northern gannet dives into the water to catch its prey. With a 180 centimetre wingspan, they are one of the largest seabirds in British waters. “Whilst their size alone is impressive, what makes this bird remarkable is its ability to plunge-dive at high speeds,” says Hoksbergen. “I wanted to capture the beauty of this incredible feat: the moment a northern gannet plunges into the sea, like a bullet piercing through the calm surface of the sea. Northern gannets have a number of adaptations that make it a true ‘ocean bird’. These adaptations enable them to dive from heights of 30 metres, hitting the water at speeds of up to 60 mph.”
BEHIND THE LENS
Jade Hoksbergen Taiwan
ABOUT THE IMAGE
- Warm, clear day in summer
- Site accessed by boat
- Taken while snorkelling
- Mid-morning
Jade Hoksbergen is a French-Taiwanese underwater photographer and artist based in the UK. She began scuba diving at age 9 and took up underwater photography in 2016 as a way to document the life she encountered beneath the surface. Since then, she has developed a distinctive artistic style, often working alongside her husband, Henley Spiers. Jade has co-authored two books and received multiple awards, including Fine Art Ocean Photographer of the Year 2023 and 2nd Overall in 2024. Through her imagery, she seeks to highlight both the beauty of overlooked marine life and new perspectives on familiar ocean creatures.
MORE IMAGES BY Jade Hoksbergen
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.
