




Key dates & big news
17 April
FULL 2023 TIMELINE ANNOUNCED
SIGN UP TO OUR FREE 'SEA STORIES' NEWSLETTER FOR ALL THE LATEST! (BOTTOM OF PAGE.)
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
14 July
WINNERS CHOSEN
ALL CATEGORY WINNERS AND OVERALL WINNER CHOSEN
14 September
winners announced
The Ocean Photographer of the Year is announced
15 September
London exhibition opens
See all category winners at the Tower Bridge 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, including International Photography Hall of Fame inductee Paul Nicklen, founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers, Cristina Mittermeier, and Emmy-nominee and Sony Artisan Andy Mann.
A total of nine categories will be judged, with the overall winner crowned the Ocean Photographer of the Year™ in September this year.

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.




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, 2023.
LONDON EXHIBITION 2023
Iconic Tower Bridge exhibition will be back!
Following the incredible continued success of our free-to-access, open-air exhibition in London – experienced by a million people in each of the last two years – we will once again be showcasing 2023’s incredible winning imagery alongside one of the world’s most iconic and historical ocean-connected landmarks, the beautiful Tower Bridge.
Excitingly, 2023’s exhibition will also run for an additional month.

Winners and finalists 2022

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Rafael Fernandez Caballero Strait of Gibraltar, Spain

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Martin Broen Quintana Roo, Mexico

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Juan Mizael Palomeque Gonzalez Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Andreas Schmid Norway

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Florian Ledoux Svalbard, Norway

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Magnus Lundgren Philippines

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Massimo Zannini Capo Noli, Italy

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Dr Nick More Cornwall, UK

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Rafael Fernandez Caballero Bermeo, Spain

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Sean Scott Cape Arid National Park, Western Australia

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Simone Caprodossi Baja California, Mexico

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Nadia de Lange Svalbard, Norway

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Mike Spencer Scarborough, UK

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Dr Nick More Manado, Indonesia

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Martin Broen Baja California, Mexico

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Ben Thouard French Polynesia

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Brooke Pyke Western Australia

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Gabriel Barathieu Mayotte

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Gergo Rugli Australia

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Sean Scott Western Australia

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Vanessa Mignon Indonesia

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Vanessa Mignon Australia

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Andreas Schmid Maldives

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Renee Capozzola Hawaii

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Nicolas Remy Australia

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Alexis Rosenfeld French Polynesia

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Ellen Cuylaerts Canada

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Franco Banfi Mexico

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Joe Daniels Seychelles

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Lucie Pollet Egypt

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Renee Capozzola Philippines

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Ron Watkins United States

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Ishino Shota Japan

Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year
Steven Walsh Australia

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Simon Lorenz Sri Lanka

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Thien Nguyen Vietnam

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Pasquale Vassallo Italy

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Rafael Fernandez Caballero Mexico

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

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Simone Caprodossi Dubai

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Ishino Shota Japan

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Rafael Fernandez Caballero Spain

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Magnus Lundgren Philippines

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Dmitry Kokh Russia

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
André Musgrove Bahamas

Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Judith van de Griendt Azores, Portugal

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Fabrice Guerin Mexico

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Franco Banfi Dominica

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Christophe Mason-Parker Seychelles

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Franco Banfi Russia

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Martin Broen Mexico

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Karim Iliya Tonga

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Tom St George Mexico

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Brandi Mueller Mexico

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Khaichuin Sim Malaysia

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Lucie Pollet Mexico

Adventure Photographer of the Year
Lucie Pollet Mexico

Young Photographer of the Year
Nicolas Hahn Mexico

Young Photographer of the Year
Ryuta Ogawa Japan

Young Photographer of the Year
Julian Jacobs United States

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Steve Woods Dominica

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Simon Lorenz Sri Lanka

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Radim Klimes Australia

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Brook Peterson Egypt

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Joao Pompeu Portugal

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Joshua Munoz French Polynesia

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Karim Iliya Hawaii

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Max Holba Indonesia

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Pier Nirandara Bahamas

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Reiko Takahashi Japan

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Tom Vierus French Polynesia

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
Thien Nguyen Vietnam

The Ocean Photographer of the Year
Ben Thouard French Polynesia

The Ocean Photographer of the Year
Brook Peterson United States

Female Fifty Fathoms Award
Brooke Pyke Western Australia

Fine Art Photographer of the Year
Didem Nalbantgil Maldives




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

of the Ocean Photographer of the Year
Sea stories
Beautiful ocean stories straight to your inbox.
Join our community.