A stunning macro photograph featuring two tiny amphipods, commonly known as 'ladybugs of the sea,' has earned Bali-based photographer Yury Ivanov the prestigious Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 title. The winning image showcases two amphipods from the Cyproideidae family, each measuring only around 3 millimeters in body length, resting delicately on coral in Indonesian waters. These minuscule creatures display remarkable coloration and perfect symmetry, creating a mesmerizing underwater portrait.
The annual competition, organized by Oceanographic Magazine in partnership with luxury watch brand Blancpain, attracted over 15,000 entries from photographers worldwide. Ivanov's winning photograph, captured at a dive site in Bali, stood out among the massive field of submissions for its intimate glimpse into often-overlooked marine life. The award-winning photographer and marine life expert described the technical challenges involved in creating the image, noting that it required tremendous patience and precision to compose and light the shot properly.
Expressing his gratitude for the recognition, Ivanov emphasized the broader significance of his achievement. 'Winning Ocean Photographer of the Year is an incredible feeling; I'm deeply grateful for the recognition,' he said. 'This award is not just about one image, but about celebrating the ocean itself—its fragility, its diversity, and its extraordinary power to inspire us.' His victory highlights the contest's mission to showcase different perspectives on marine environments and the incredible biodiversity that exists beneath the waves.
Another notable winner at this year's competition was Jialing Cai, who previously claimed the Ocean Photographer of the Year title in 2023. The Chinese photographer received the Female Fifty Fathoms award, a special honor that celebrates women who serve as pioneers in ocean photography. This prestigious recognition required nomination by her peers, representing a significant achievement in the field. Cai's winning entry featured an almost ethereal image of a juvenile wunderpus octopus surrounded by various small zooplankton, including larval shrimps, crabs, and worms, captured in the waters of Anilao, Philippines.
The competition's diverse categories showcased the full spectrum of ocean life and human interaction with marine environments. Category winners included remarkable images ranging from wildlife behavior to conservation efforts. Takumi Oyama from Japan won the Wildlife category with a photograph of a female yellow pygmy goby releasing newly hatched larvae from her mouth, demonstrating the unique parental care behavior of this species. Ben Thouard captured the Adventure category with a dramatic shot from Portugal's Nazaré, showing surfers braving massive waves during challenging conditions.
Several entries highlighted both conservation successes and environmental challenges facing marine ecosystems. The Conservation (Hope) category winner, Sirachai Arunrugstichai from Thailand, documented the breeding program at Aquaria Phuket, showing an aquarist holding an early-stage embryo of an endangered Indo-Pacific leopard shark. Since 2023, the facility's breeding program has successfully produced over 40 pups of this threatened species. In stark contrast, Hugo Bret's Conservation (Impact) category winner from the Faroe Islands showed the harsh reality of whale hunting, depicting a long-finned pilot whale fetus lying beneath its mother's corpse, highlighting the annual slaughter of over 1,000 cetaceans during traditional hunts.
The competition's younger participants also delivered exceptional work, with Aaron Sanders from the United Kingdom winning the Young category. His nighttime photograph captured two tiny bobtail squid in an intimate mating display on the seabed, their bodies pulsing with waves of color through chromatophores. The Human Connection category, won by Craig Parry from Australia, showed people working tirelessly for 15 hours attempting to rescue a stranded humpback whale, though ultimately unsuccessful, the image powerfully demonstrated human compassion and collective effort in marine conservation.
According to Will Harrison, director of Ocean Photographer of the Year, the competition serves a crucial role beyond artistic recognition. 'The winners of this year's Ocean Photographer of the Year remind us that photography is more than art—it is a bridge,' Harrison explained. 'Their images connect people to the ocean in ways words cannot, reaching those who may never dive in it or paddle on it, but whose lives are deeply intertwined with it. In a time of planetary urgency, this year's photographers invite the world to see, feel, and ultimately care. Their work is critical, because we protect what we understand.'
The complete gallery of finalists and winners demonstrates the incredible diversity of marine life and the various ways humans interact with ocean environments. From microscopic creatures like Ivanov's winning amphipods to massive marine mammals, the photographs capture both the beauty and fragility of underwater ecosystems. The contest continues to serve as an important platform for raising awareness about ocean conservation while celebrating the artistic and technical excellence of underwater photography.
