Ocean Photographer of the Year prizes

Prizes

The Ocean Photographer of the Year offers photographers the opportunity to win some truly unique and career-changing prizes.

Included this year is cash; the opportunity to join an Ocean Census expedition as a contributing, commissioned photographer; social media exposure to millions of ocean photography enthusiasts; mentoring sessions and the chance for photographers to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the competition’s SeaLegacy judges; inclusion in a Sydney exhibition; a copy of the Edition 2023 coffee table book.

The prizes on offer have a total value of more than £500,000, though some, in truth, are priceless.

Read on for a list of the prizes on offer for each category. 

Category Prizes

THE WINNER: THE OCEAN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

- £1,500 prize money.
- Opportunity to join an Ocean Census expedition as a contributing, commissioned photographer. This prize is for 1 photographer from the 10 OPY winners (categories and overall winner), as chosen by the Ocean Census leadership team).
- 1-day Instagram takeover of SeaLegacy’s Instagram feed of 2.5 million followers.
- Inclusion in SeaLegacy, Oceanographic and partners' social media posts featuring all category winners.
- Top billing in bespoke Oceanographic and SeaLegacy email distributions to 300,000 people.
- Featured in Oceanographic Magazine’s Behind the Lens.
- Featured in new, 5-month exhibition at world-renowned Sydney venue.
- Copy of Ocean Photographer of the Year, Edition 2023 coffee table book.

THE OCEAN PORTFOLIO AWARD

- Opportunity to join an Ocean Census expedition as a contributing, commissioned photographer. This prize is for 1 photographer from the 10 OPY winners (categories and overall winner), as chosen by the Ocean Census leadership team).
- 1-day Instagram takeover of SeaLegacy’s Instagram feed of 2.5 million followers.
- Inclusion in SeaLegacy, Oceanographic and partners' social media posts featuring all category winners.
- Featured in bespoke Oceanographic and SeaLegacy email distributions to 300,000 people.
- Featured in Oceanographic Magazine’s Behind the Lens.
- Featured in new, 5-month exhibition at world-renowned Sydney venue.
- Copy of Ocean Photographer of the Year, Edition 2023 coffee table book

THE OCEAN CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR (IMPACT)

- £1,000 prize money.
- Opportunity to join an Ocean Census expedition as a contributing, commissioned photographer. This prize is for 1 photographer from the 10 OPY winners (categories and overall winner), as chosen by the Ocean Census leadership team).
- Inclusion in SeaLegacy, Oceanographic and partners' social media posts featuring all category winners.
- Featured in bespoke Oceanographic and SeaLegacy email distributions to 300,000 people.
- Featured in Oceanographic Magazine’s Behind the Lens.
- Featured in new, 5-month exhibition at world-renowned Sydney venue.
- Copy of Ocean Photographer of the Year, Edition 2023 coffee table book

THE OCEAN CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR (HOPE)

- £1,000 prize money.
- Opportunity to join an Ocean Census expedition as a contributing, commissioned photographer. This prize is for 1 photographer from the 10 OPY winners (categories and overall winner), as chosen by the Ocean Census leadership team).
- Inclusion in SeaLegacy, Oceanographic and partners' social media posts featuring all category winners.
- Featured in bespoke Oceanographic and SeaLegacy email distributions to 300,000 people.
- Featured in Oceanographic Magazine’s Behind the Lens.
- Featured in new, 5-month exhibition at world-renowned Sydney venue.
- Copy of Ocean Photographer of the Year, Edition 2023 coffee table book.

THE OCEAN ADVENTURE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

- £1,000 prize money.
- Opportunity to join an Ocean Census expedition as a contributing, commissioned photographer. This prize is for 1 photographer from the 10 OPY winners (categories and overall winner), as chosen by the Ocean Census leadership team).
- Inclusion in SeaLegacy, Oceanographic and partners' social media posts featuring all category winners.
- Featured in bespoke Oceanographic and SeaLegacy email distributions to 300,000 people.
- Featured in Oceanographic Magazine’s Behind the Lens.
- Featured in new, 5-month exhibition at world-renowned Sydney venue.
- Copy of Ocean Photographer of the Year, Edition 2023 coffee table book.

THE OCEAN WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

- £1,000 prize money.
- Opportunity to join an Ocean Census expedition as a contributing, commissioned photographer. This prize is for 1 photographer from the 10 OPY winners (categories and overall winner), as chosen by the Ocean Census leadership team).
- Inclusion in SeaLegacy, Oceanographic and partners' social media posts featuring all category winners.
- Featured in bespoke Oceanographic and SeaLegacy email distributions to 300,000 people.
- Featured in Oceanographic Magazine’s Behind the Lens.
- Featured in new, 5-month exhibition at world-renowned Sydney venue.
- Copy of Ocean Photographer of the Year, Edition 2023 coffee table book.

THE OCEAN FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

- £1,000 prize money.
- Opportunity to join an Ocean Census expedition as a contributing, commissioned photographer. This prize is for 1 photographer from the 10 OPY winners (categories and overall winner), as chosen by the Ocean Census leadership team).
- Inclusion in SeaLegacy, Oceanographic and partners' social media posts featuring all category winners.
- Featured in bespoke Oceanographic and SeaLegacy email distributions to 300,000 people.
- Featured in Oceanographic Magazine’s Behind the Lens.
- Featured in new, 5-month exhibition at world-renowned Sydney venue.
- Copy of Ocean Photographer of the Year, Edition 2023 coffee table book.

The Human Connection Award: People And Planet Ocean

- £1,000 prize money.
- Opportunity to join an Ocean Census expedition as a contributing, commissioned photographer. This prize is for 1 photographer from the 10 OPY winners (categories and overall winner), as chosen by the Ocean Census leadership team).
- Inclusion in SeaLegacy, Oceanographic and partners' social media posts featuring all category winners.
- Featured in bespoke Oceanographic and SeaLegacy email distributions to 300,000 people.
- Featured in Oceanographic Magazine’s Behind the Lens.
- Featured in new, 5-month exhibition at world-renowned Sydney venue.
- Copy of Ocean Photographer of the Year, Edition 2023 coffee table book.

THE YOUNG OCEAN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

- A 1-on-1 mentorship session with a member of the judging panel.
- Opportunity to join an Ocean Census expedition as a contributing, commissioned photographer. This prize is for 1 photographer from the 10 OPY winners (categories and overall winner), as chosen by the Ocean Census leadership team).
- Inclusion in SeaLegacy, Oceanographic and partners' social media posts featuring all category winners.
- Featured in bespoke Oceanographic and SeaLegacy email distributions to 300,000 people.
- Featured in Oceanographic Magazine’s Behind the Lens.
- Featured in new, 5-month exhibition at world-renowned Sydney venue.
- Copy of Ocean Photographer of the Year, Edition 2023 coffee table book.

The Female Fifty Fathoms Award

- Special timepiece from Blancpain Fifty Fathoms collection, which embodies the brand’s passion for the ocean.
- Opportunity to join an Ocean Census expedition as a contributing, commissioned photographer. This prize is for 1 photographer from the 10 OPY winners (categories and overall winner), as chosen by the Ocean Census leadership team).
- Featured on selected Blancpain communication platforms and materials.
- Inclusion in SeaLegacy, Oceanographic and partners' social media posts featuring all category winners.
- Featured in bespoke Oceanographic and SeaLegacy email distributions to 300,000 people.
- Featured in Oceanographic Magazine’s Behind the Lens.
- Featured in new, 5-month exhibition at world-renowned Sydney venue.
- Copy of Ocean Photographer of the Year, Edition 2023 coffee table book.