The Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 competition has unveiled an extraordinary collection of finalists in the Fine Art category, showcasing breathtaking imagery that transforms marine life and underwater landscapes into works of artistic brilliance. These stunning photographs demonstrate the creative vision of photographers who have pushed the boundaries of underwater photography to capture the ocean's beauty in ways that transcend traditional nature documentation.
Antonio Bertran Regàs created one of the most conceptually striking images, explaining his fascination with the similarity between jellyfish and rockets. "I was always fascinated by the resemblance between jellyfish and rockets," says Bertran Regàs. "I was looking for a photo that conveyed this connection: a rocket leaving Earth. For this, I used a fisheye lens and took the photo right at sunrise. Snell's window helped me create the Earth, the particles were the stars, and the sun appeared fortunately behind it. I don't think I'll ever be as close to space as I was on that day."
Rafael Armada captured a moment of pure serenity during his time in South Georgia, creating an image that speaks to the ephemeral nature of Antarctic wildlife encounters. "My brief time in South Georgia was intense," says Armada. "On the last morning, just a few hours before departure to Gough Island, I strolled along the beach with no intention of photographing, just to observe. I noticed how the waves left fleeting mirrors on the black sand that disappeared as quickly as they appeared. A single penguin stood motionless in the silence, and for a moment the reflection was perfect. The cold air, changing clouds, and fleeting light made everything seem transient. Almost instinctively, I raised the camera, knowing that this silence would not return."
The technical mastery of underwater photography is exemplified in Luis Arpa's dynamic capture of a young longfin batfish. "This is an image of a young longfin batfish, taken with a long exposure time, spotlight, and deliberate camera panning to create movement and drama," says Arpa Toribio. "Juveniles are known for their striking black bodies outlined by a bright orange border – a coloration that is lost within a few months. I encountered this restless creature in the tropical waters of the Lembeh Strait in Indonesia. Capturing the image required patience and persistence over two dives, as these active young fish constantly disappear into crevices, making the shot particularly difficult without disturbing the fish's natural behavior."
Minimalist composition takes center stage in Romain Barats' Antarctic Peninsula photograph, where a single penguin becomes the focal point against vast ice formations. "I've always been a fan of minimalist photography," says Barats. "When I discovered the Antarctic Peninsula, I immediately saw the potential for creative shots. If I had to choose the ultimate photographic cliché to represent this place, it would be penguins on an iceberg. To achieve the minimalist style I was looking for, I framed a small solitary penguin in the corner of the image while the iceberg filled the entire frame to highlight the vastness of these ice masses."
The annual whale migration along Australia's eastern coast provided Tim Burgess with an opportunity to document the intimate relationship between humpback mothers and their calves. "During the annual whale migration, over 40,000 humpback whales travel along Australia's eastern coast," says Burgess. "This is a special time that I love to document. On this day it started cloudy, and due to conditions, not many whales were to be seen. Then I noticed this humpback mother with her calf and began observing their behavior – how they slowly rose above the water's surface, bridging the world between land and sea, before silently disappearing back into the depths of the Pacific."
Ysabela Coll's photograph captures the dramatic moment when a stingray employs its survival strategy, demonstrating how beauty and function intersect in marine life. "With a powerful beat of its pectoral fins, a stingray disappears into the blue depths, leaving behind a swirling cloud of sand," says Coll. "This dramatic eruption is not just beautiful – it's a survival strategy. The ray's sudden movement stirs up the seafloor, creating a dense visual barrier that confuses predators and conceals its escape. In a single graceful movement, it displays remarkable adaptation to life on the ocean floor – where defense, camouflage, and movement come together in a fleeting but unforgettable performance."
Dylan de Haas utilized drone technology to capture an extraordinary encounter with manta rays close to shore, highlighting both the wonder and vulnerability of these gentle giants. "While driving along the beach with my family, I noticed a manta right behind the shoreline," says de Haas. "I launched the drone and discovered five of them gliding barely five meters from shore. Calm water, gentle waves, and clear visibility made this rare observation possible. Such moments are a gift, but also a reminder of what's at stake. These gentle giants are under growing pressure from warming seas and human influence. Experiencing them so close and undisturbed was powerful. Later we swam with them, humbled by their presence. This image captures that quiet, fleeting connection with the wild."
Joaquin Fregoni's intimate whale encounter represents one of the most personal connections between photographer and subject, showcasing the curious nature of these magnificent marine mammals. "I took this photo during one of the most special encounters I've had in years," says Fregoni. "This curious female whale kept returning very close to us. It was just my group, her, and a male who watched quietly from a distance at about 20 meters depth. He never came closer, but he didn't leave either."
The microscopic world of marine life is beautifully represented in Jade Hoksbergen's photograph of a tiny candy crab, demonstrating how the smallest creatures can create the most impactful images. "This image shows a tiny young candy crab, barely a centimeter in size, sitting on its pink coral mattress, which is also its main food source," says Hoksbergen. "This small but beautiful crustacean eludes both predators and observers not only through its tiny size but also through its camouflage. The candy crab is a true hidden gem beneath the waves of the Tañon Strait in the Philippines, where this image was taken."
Scott Portelli's documentation of Weddell seals showcases the remarkable adaptations that allow marine mammals to thrive in Earth's most extreme environments. "Weddell seals thrive in the harshest environment on the planet," says Portelli. "These large mammals, distributed throughout Antarctica, possess a thick layer of fur and blubber that serves both as a food reserve and insulation. The densely packed fur allows them to survive temperatures down to minus 60 degrees Celsius. This image was taken after this seal had pulled itself out of the water onto an ice floe to rest. Later it would return to the icy depths of Antarctica to hunt."
Maria Reiderer's encounter with dwarf minke whales in the Great Barrier Reef represents a unique wildlife experience, as these waters host the only known predictable gathering of these whales worldwide. "Dwarf minke whales are known to visit the northern Great Barrier Reef in winter – the only known predictable gathering of these whales worldwide," says Riederer. "These curious giants approach swimmers with almost playful curiosity. Floating in the turquoise water, watching a sleek, dark body effortlessly approach when its eye meets yours – a moment of connection. The whales seem to perceive your presence, they circle you and interact with you. It's a humbling experience that confirms the wonder of the ocean and its inhabitants and underscores the urgent need to preserve it."
The competition concludes with Hitomi Tsuchiya's remarkable capture of an underwater aurora phenomenon near Mount Iwo on Satsuma-Iojima Island, where volcanic activity creates extraordinary underwater colors. "This image was taken near Mount Iwo on Satsuma-Iojima Island, where you can see the underwater aurora," says Tsuchiya. "The volcano ejects iron-containing substances not only above ground but also from the seabed, creating these rich colors. I hope this image makes people think about the connection between global warming and ocean conservation. We must preserve these mysterious and fantastic landscapes, created by land and sea, for future generations."
