




Key dates & big news
17 April
FULL 2023 TIMELINE ANNOUNCED
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1 May
OPY2023 open for entries!
Those wanting to make an early impression can enter their work!
30 June
Entry period closes
The last day for entrants to submit their 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
14 September
winners announced
The Ocean Photographer of the Year is announced
16 November
Sydney exhibition opens
See ALL finalists and winners at the Sydney exhibition
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.
A total of nine categories will be judged, with the overall winner crowned the Ocean Photographer of the Yearâ„¢ in September this year.

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?
Award Categories
The Ocean Photographer of the Year consists of just nine categories and the overall winner, the Ocean Photographer of the Yearâ„¢. 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, 2023.
OPY2023 EXHIBITION
Sydney exhibition NOW OPEN!
Following the incredible success of our open-air exhibition in London – experienced by more than a million people in each of the last two years – we are this year showcasing ALL of 2023’s incredible finalists and winners at a brand new exhibition in Sydney, Australia.

Winners and finalists 2023

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Henley Spiers Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Tim Burgess Queensland, Australia

The Ocean Photographer of the Year
Alvaro Herrero Lopez-Beltran Mexico

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Mok Wai Hoe Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Max Holba East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Franco Banfi Tasiilaq, Greenland

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Ollie Clarke Western Australia

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Scott Portelli Falkland Islands

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Gabriel Barathieu Mayotte Island, Comoros Islands

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Andrei Savin Bohol Sea, Philippines

Female Fifty Fathoms Award
Merche Llobera Costa Rica

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Florian Ledoux Svalbard

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Max Holba Cebu, Philippines

Adventure Photographer of the Year
James Ferrara Ontario, Canada

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Merche Llobera Costa Rica

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Shane Gross Alaska, United States

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Jules Casey Port Phillip, Australia

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Alex Postigo Baja California Sur, Mexico

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Florian Ledoux Svalbard, Norway

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Jeroen Hoekendijk Netherlands

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Ioannis Pavlos Evangelidis Benin

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Martin Broen Aqaba, Jordan

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Scott Portelli Canada

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Renee Capozzola Maui, Hawaii

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Sylvie Ayer Florida, USA

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Jingyi Wang East China Sea, China

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Sirachai Arunrugstichai Rayong, Thailand

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Renee Capozzola French Polynesia

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Martin Broen Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Michael Haluwana Western Australia

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Michael Haluwana Greenland

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Shane Gross Saskatchewan, Canada

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Ioannis Pavlos Evangelidis Uganda

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Dmitry Kokh Arctic Ocean

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Michael Haluwana Arctic Ocean

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Rachel Moore French Polynesia

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Jade Hoksbergen Maldives

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Merche Llobera Costa Rica

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Remuna Beca Addu Atoll, Maldives

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Jeroen Hoekendijk Texel, The Netherlands

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Alex Postigo Baja California Sur, Mexico

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Craig Parry Paradise Bay, Antarctica

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Tim Burgess Wategos Beach, Australia

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Henley Spiers Isle of Noss, Scotland

Ocean Portfolio Award
Sirachai Arunrugstichai Thailand

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Merche Llobera Baja California Sur, Mexico

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Jingyi Wang East China Sea, China

Young Photographer of the Year
Jarvis Smallman Western Australia

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Gabrielle Lui Cambodia

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Nicholas Holton Bronte, Sydney

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Daniela Tommasi Svalbard

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Celia Kujala British Columbia, Canada

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Renee Capozzola Maui, Hawaii

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Peter Marshall East Nusa Tengarra, Indonesia

Young Photographer of the Year
Jake Brandwine Bali, Indonesia

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Sirachai Arunrugstichai Myeik, Myanmar

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Jack Pokoj Philippines

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Malek Bouguenoun Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Colin Tennant Nunavut, Canada

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Nicolas Hahn Baja California Sur, Mexico

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Vanessa Torres Macho Sydney, Australia

Young Photographer of the Year
Aaron Sanders Falmouth, UK

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Karim Iliya Iceland

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Henley Spiers Baja California Sur, Mexico

Adventure Photographer of the Year
David Alpert Greece

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Cedric Peneau Réunion Island

The Ocean Photographer of the Year
Jialing Cai Philippines

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Brandon Berry Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Martin Broen Quintana Roo, Mexico

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Todd Glaser Hawaii, US

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Laszlo Foldi Hurghada, Egypt

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Ollie Clarke Bali, Indonesia

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Gabrielle Lui Hawaii, US

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Yung Sen Wu Logbon, Philippines

The Ocean Photographer of the Year
Andrei Savin Philippines

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Ross Long Southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Sirachai Arunrugstichai Rayong, Thailand

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Gergo Rugli Sydney, Australia

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Rike Brandt Lombok, Indonesia

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Remuna Beca Gun Cay, Bahamas




Winners announced in September.
Follow us at @OPY_Awards for all the latest.

of the Ocean Photographer of the Year
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