The Ocean Photographer of the Year Overall Winner, Rafael Fernández Caballero
Oceanographic Magazine has announced the winners of the 2024 edition of the Ocean Photographer of the Year competition—and it’s another stunning collection of images showcasing the beauty beneath the waves. This year’s overall winner—the “Ocean Photographer of the Year”—is Rafael Fernández Caballero for his breathtaking shot of a Bryde’s whale poised to gulp down a sizeable sardine snack, captured off Baja California, Mexico.
The winners of the other nine awards are a who’s who of top underwater photographers, including many DPGers. Manuel Castellanos Raboso is crowned “Wildlife Photographer of the Year” for his image of a mahi-mahi captured during another feeding frenzy off Baja California, while the Mexican peninsula is featured again, as it happens, in Henley Spiers’ captivating motion-blur image of a swimming mobula ray, which earned him the title “Fine Art Photographer of the Year.”
Pro shooter Tobias Friedrich is this year’s “Adventure Photographer of the Year” for an awe-inspiring shot of a diver dwarfed by a huge shipwreck in the Bahamas. In the two conservation categories, Frederik Brogaard’s photo showing a fin whale waiting to be butchered in Iceland wins “Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year,” while Shane Gross’ shot of a green turtle being released by a researcher in the Seychelles takes “Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year.” Impressively, Shane also clinches the “Ocean Portfolio Award” for a stunning collection 10 images.
Rounding things off, we have the “Human Connection Award: People and Planet Ocean” award going to Zhang Xiang for a serene picture of a traditional Chinese fisher strolling across a sun-drenched beach in Fujian, China; “Young Photographer of the Year” going to Jacob Guy for a lovely capture of an algae octopus in Indonesia; and the “Female Fifty Fathoms Award” going to Ipah Uid Lynn for her whale shark surrounded by schooling fish, captured in the Maldives.
Check out these images below or head over to the winners gallery on the Oceangeographic Magazine website to see all the recognized photos. Congratulations to all the worthy winners and runners-up!
Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Manuel Castellanos Raboso
Fine Art Photographer of the Year, Henley Spiers
Adventure Photographer of the Year, Tobias Friedrich
Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year, Frederik Brogaard
Conservation (Hope) Photographer of the Year, Shane Gross
Human Connection Award: People and Planet Ocean, Zhang Xiang
Young Photographer of the Year, Jacob Guy
Ocean Portfolio Award Winner, Shane Gross
Female Fifty Fathoms Award, Ipah Uid Lynn