Winners announced in September.
Follow us at @OPY_Awards for all the latest.
Key dates & news
15 March
FULL 2024 TIMELINE ANNOUNCED.
SIGN UP TO OUR FREE 'SEA STORIES' NEWSLETTER FOR ALL THE LATEST! (BOTTOM OF PAGE)
1 April
OPY2024 open for entries!
Those wanting to make an early impression can enter their work!
30 April
Last day for 'Early bird' entries!
Use 'earlybird20' coupon code for 20% off entry fees before this date
26 May
Sydney OPY2023 exhibition closes.
Last chance to see ALL finalists and winners at the Sydney exhibition
30 June
Entry period closes.
The last day for entrants to submit photographs!
1 July
Judging begins!
The judging process starts with the creation of a longlist
31 July
WINNERS CHOSEN.
ALL CATEGORY WINNERS AND OVERALL WINNER CHOSEN
15 August
OPY2024 finalists announced!
All category finalists for OPY2024 are announced
12 September
winners announced!
The Ocean Photographer of the Year is announced
28 November
Sydney exhibition opens
The Australian National Maritime Museum hosts the 2024 images
About
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 ocean photographers, editors and museum/gallery curators. A total of 118 ocean images are recognised each year, connecting with millions of people around the world via digital, print and in-person exhibitions.
Categories
The grand title winner, the Ocean Photographer of the Year, is selected from submissions across nine categories. Each category is also recognised with a winner.
Categories are broad in their focus and open to interpretation. This is to make OPY as inclusive as possible and to ensure the bravest and boldest photographers can find a suitable category in which to enter their work. Underwater, from the air, on the coast or out at sea, each category is open to all ocean photographers. It is this confluence of disciplines that makes each final selection so special.
EXHIBITIONS
Find your nearest Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition. Host cities and exhibition venues will be announced throughout the second half of 2024.
Experience the beauty, drama and power of OPY in person! Following on from several hugely successful years exhibiting winning images in an outdoor gallery by Tower Bridge, London, OPY moved indoors in 2023, opening a spectacular lightbox exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. Sydney will be back again in 2024, along with some new venues.
Organisers
Ocean Photographer of the Year is co-presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain, two brands with the ocean at their heart.
Oceanographic and Blancpain are long-time collaborators, both possessing an inherent belief that purpose-driven storytelling has an important role to play in the pursuit of a better protected ocean. Photography is the most important element in such storytelling, a shared passion that has catapulted OPY to the forefront of Oceanographic’s and Blancpain’s collaborative endeavours.
Winners and finalists 2024
Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Ajiex Dharma Bali, Indonesia
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Tanya Houppermans The Bahamas
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Celia Kujala Kiepert Island, Svalbard, Norway
Adventure Photographer of the Year
Daan Verhoeven The Bahamas
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Pietro Formis Philippines
The Ocean Photographer of the Year
Thien Nguyen Hon Yen, Vietnam
Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Mark Williams Canada
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Zhang Xiang Fujian, China
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Shane Gross Seychelles
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Noam Kortler Papua New Guinea
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Ioannis Pavlos Evangelidis Sri Lanka
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Seán O'Callaghan Norway
Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Pietro Formis Philippines
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Frederik Brogaard Iceland
Adventure Photographer of the Year
Daisuke Kurashima Japan
Ocean Portfolio Award
Katherine Lu Anilao, Philippines
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Shane Gross Seychelles
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Francesca Page Indonesia
Young Photographer of the Year
Julian Jacobs San Diego, California
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Nataya Chonecadeedumrongkul Thailand
The Ocean Photographer of the Year
Rafael Fernandez Caballero Baja California Sur, Mexico
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Michael Haluwana Svalbard, Norway
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Clayton Harris Australia
Female Fifty Fathoms Award
Ipah Uid Lynn The Maldives
Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Henley Spiers Baja California Sur, Mexico
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Kate Jonker South Africa
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Matty Smith Sydney, Australia
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Dillys Pouponeau Seychelles
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Rafael Fernandez Caballero Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
TOBIAS FRIEDRICH Lembeh, Indonesia
Young Photographer of the Year
Joao Pontes Hawaii, USA
Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Henley Spiers Devon, England
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Andrey Shpatak Russia
Adventure Photographer of the Year
Julia Ochs Norway
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Edwar Herreno Costa Rica
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Romeo Bodolai Myanmar
Adventure Photographer of the Year
TOBIAS FRIEDRICH The Bahamas
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Florian Ledoux Svalbard, Norway
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Henley Spiers The Maldives
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Brook Peterson Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Rebecca Douglas Isle of Noss, Shetland
Adventure Photographer of the Year
John Barton Mentawai Islands, Indonesia
Adventure Photographer of the Year
Sébastien Bachellereau New South Wales, Australia
Adventure Photographer of the Year
TOBIAS FRIEDRICH Northern Norway
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Florian Ledoux Svalbard, Norway
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Jake Wilton Conflict Islands, Papua New Guinea
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Giacomo d'Orlando Indonesia
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Ulrika Larsson Bab al-Mandab Strait, Red Sea
Adventure Photographer of the Year
John Barton Mentawai Islands, Indonesia
Adventure Photographer of the Year
Chong Wan Yong Sri Lanka
The Ocean Photographer of the Year
Jade Hoksbergen Isle of Noss, Shetland Islands
Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Kristiyan Dimitrov Antarctica
Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Renee Capozzola Tahiti, French Polynesia
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Jasmine Corbett Java, Indonesia
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Giacomo d'Orlando Jakarta, Indonesia
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Remuna Beca The Bahamas
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Laura Leusko Baja California Sur, Mexico
Ocean Portfolio Award
Filippo Borghi Antarctica
Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Enric Gener Menorca, Spain
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Kristiyan Dimitrov Svalbard, Norway
Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Merche Llobera Saltee Islands, Ireland
Adventure Photographer of the Year
Byron Conroy Iceland
Young Photographer of the Year
Jacob Guy North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Gabriel Barathieu Mayotte
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Tom Shlesinger Israel
Ocean Portfolio Award
Shane Gross British Columbia, Canada
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Manuel Castellanos Raboso Baja California Sur, Mexico
Adventure Photographer of the Year
Daniela Tommasi Western Australia
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Merche Llobera Baja California Sur, Mexico
Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Julien Anton Tahiti, French Polynesia
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Andrew Sullivan-Haskins Hawaii, USA
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Pier Nirandara Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Joao Rodrigues Portugal
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Yue Hongjun Cebu, Philippines
Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Isoon Tepsaskul Baja California Sur, Mexico
Adventure Photographer of the Year
Ben Yavar Philippines
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Sirachai Arunrugstichai Myeik Archipelago, Myanmar
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Scott Portelli Barents Sea, Arctic
Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Mizael Palomeque Gonzalez Mexico
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Megan Hassa Bali, Indonesia
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Joao Rodrigues Portugal
Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Zhang Xiang Fujian, China