Ocean Photographer of the Year

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Key dates & big news

3 April

FULL 2023 TIMELINE ANNOUNCED

About the Awards

The Ocean Photographer of the Year is a celebration of our beautiful blue planet, as well as a platform to highlight the many plights it is facing.

Ocean photographers of all disciplines and experience levels – amateurs and professionals alike – are invited to submit their most impactful imagery to be judged by a panel of some of the world’s leading ocean photographers, including International Photography Hall of Fame inductee Paul Nicklen, founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers, Cristina Mittermeier, and Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Shawn Heinrichs.

A total of nine categories will be judged, with the overall winner crowned the Ocean Photographer of the Year™ in September this year.

RULES / FAQS PRIZES

Photo by 2022 Portfolio winner, Matty Smith

Entry deadline

June 30, 2022

Prizes worth more than

£500,000

Entry fee

£10 per category

Winners announced

September 2022

Meet the Judges

The Ocean Photographer of the Year judging panel is made up of some of the world’s leading ocean photographers. Expedition leaders and award-winners who have played significant roles in the creation of MPAs, the protection of individual species and broader public awareness and ocean literacy campaigns, they know what it takes to create powerful, captivating ocean imagery. Can your imagery connect with them? Discover a little more about our panel below.

Paul Nicklen

SeaLegacy co-founder & Sony Artisan

About Paul

Cristina Mittermeier

SeaLegacy co-founder & Sony Artisan

About Cristina

David Doubilet

Photographer & journalist

About David

Shawn Heinrichs

Emmy Award-winning cinematographer

About Shawn

Andy Mann

Award-winning expedition director

About Andy

Sadie Quarrier

Deputy Director of Photography, National Geographic

About Sadie

Award Categories

The Ocean Photographer of the Year consists of just nine categories and the overall winner, the Ocean Photographer of the Year™. The categories are broad in their focus and open to a little personal interpretation. This is to make the Awards as inclusive as possible and to ensure the bravest and boldest photographers out there aren’t dissuaded from entering because their images don’t fit prescriptive categories. Underwater, topside, on the coast or out at sea, if you feel your ocean image has the chance to connect emotionally with the judges, they’d love to see it. The deadline for this year’s submissions is June 30, 2022.

See categories

LONDON EXHIBITION 2022

Iconic Tower Bridge exhibition is back!

Following the incredible success of 2021’s free-to-access, open-air exhibition in London – experienced by a million people – we will once again be showcasing 2022’s incredible winning imagery alongside one of the world’s most iconic and historical ocean-connected landmarks, the beautiful Tower Bridge.

The exhibition will run from October 5th – November 7th.

FIND OUT MORE