Portraits of flora and fauna, divers or wrecks nestled in ocean depths, British competition has selected the best of underwater photography.
The Underwater Photographer of The Year competition, the most prestigious in underwater photography, chose the winner and finalists from more than 6,500 applications from 600 photographers from 30 countries. The jury has divided its awards in 13 categories which offer animal portraits, black and white photos or pictures of wrecks more than 100 meters deep, rarely observed by humans.
This year, Alvaro Herrero won the prize with a photo of a humpback whale and its whale. Entitled “Radiant Bond” (“radiant link”), this scene was immortalized off French Polynesia. “The mother accompanies her little to the surface for her first breathing early in the morning, Because the baby is still very small and clumsy, “describes the Spanish photographer.” For me, this photo truly testifies to maternal love, “he continues.
>> See a selection of award -winning photos:
Ruruka, named promising photographer
In this demanding competition, founded in 1965, other photographers have distinguished themselves, such as Abdulaziz Al Saleh, from Kuwait, which won the “portrait” category with its “hydration” cliché showing camels drinking in the desert.
Korean photographer Ruruka also marked the jury with his extraordinary but spectacular snapshot of multicolored waters of a Mexican cenote. The image, entitled “Underwater Aurora” (“Aurores submarines”), earned him the title of promising underwater photographer of the year. “From where I live, there is a very long way to go to arrive so far, about 24 hours by plane,” explains Ruruka, “but the trip is worth it, because this unique environment corresponds perfectly to the type of images that I try to create”.
In the “Great Britain” subcategory, David Alpert was appointed photographer of the year for his superb photograph “The Curious Seal” (“The curious seal”), taken near the island of Lundy, the first English marine reserve, created in 1986.
Awareness of environmental preservation
In 2024, Alex Dawson had been named a big winner for his image of bones of small Rorquals off the coast of Greenland. A strong image of a free diver, witnessing the consequences of whale hunting.
Because the Underwater competition is every year the desire to raise awareness of the preservation of the environment. The photo that made it possible to win the title this year is also an example, explains the winner. It “translates both the fragility and the beauty of our oceans” populated by humpback whales threatened by global warming, pollution, collisions with boats and the overexploitation of their main prey, Krill.
This photo “reveals one of the fascinating species with which we share our planet”, concludes Herrero, who returns every winter to French Polynesia to admire the treasures of his biodiversity.
Known for his commitment to the protection of underwater ecosystems, Alvaro Herrero is also the ambassador of the TDS Technical Diving Systems diving brand, with whom he collaborates for the promotion of responsible and sustainable diving.
Florise Vaubien
