‘Ladybugs of the Sea’ Take Top Honors in the 2025 Ocean Photographer of the Year Contest — Colossal
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From tiny creatures measuring only three millimeters to humpback whales of incredible proportions, the animals and seascapes represented in this year’s Ocean Photographer of the Year explore the incredible diversity and fragility of our cherished saltwater ecosystems.
More than 15,000 images were submitted to the 2025 contest from around the globe. Penguins off the coast of Antarctica captured by Romain Barats are complemented by stunning coral reefs shot by divers like Kim Hyeon Min and Jenny Stock. The contest is co-organized by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain.
Kim Hyeon Min. Countless juvenile fish swirl around a dome-shaped coral, Indonesia
This year’s top prize goes to Yury Ivanov for his wonderful depiction of two tiny amphipods, which, despite their minuscule size, display beautiful colors and symmetry. “It required a lot of patience and precision to compose and light the shot properly,” Ivanov says. “The result reveals an intimate glimpse of underwater life that is often overlooked.”
Explore the winners’ gallery on the competition’s website.
Romain Barats. Gentoo penguins resembling rockets dart through the water, AntarcticaRichard Smith. A dwarf seahorse hides among green algae, U.S.Jialing Cai. Almost ethereal in its translucency, a juvenile wunderpus octopus is surrounded by a variety of small zooplankton, such as larval shrimps, crabs, and worms, Anilao, PhilippinesGiancarlo Mazarese. Between two sea squirts, a goby cradles its eggs. Bali, IndonesiaBrooke Pyke. A mating ritual between three tawny nurse sharks. Baa Atoll, MaldivesJenny Stock. A healthy reef in Raja Ampat, IndonesiaClaudio Moreno Madrid. An entangled humpback whale off Ningaloo Reef, AustraliaNatnattcha Chaturapitamorn. The morning ritual at Tam Tien beach, reflecting a deep connection between the sea and coastal livelihoods, VietnamAlvaro Herrero. A freediver, accompanied by two humpback whales, maintains a respectful distance, French PolynesiaShi Xioawen. Laver cultivation poles intertwine with fishermen labouring at work, China
