[imagesource: Rafael Fernandez Caballero]

I’ve heard people talk about their experiences of diving into the ocean as if it’s a regenerative philosophy, where you literally and figuratively let the waves wash over you.

Some say that when they get out and walk on land, they can still feel the ocean in and around them, even after a couple of hours.

The second big blue known to man (besides the sky) holds a world of wonder which is a playground for photographers.

The Ocean Photographer of the Year Awards aims to acknowledge the work these photographers put into its mission of shining a light on the beauty of the ocean, as well as the threats it faces.

Chosen from thousands of submissions, there was one unanimous winner of the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2022: French Polynesia-based photographer, Ben Thouard.

Ben’s mesmerising and beautifully composed image is full of texture and action, showing a surfer being hit by one of the heaviest waves in the world, Teahupo’o, which translates as ‘place of skulls’:

Image: Ben Thouard

Second place went to Katherine Lu for her stunning shot of a blanket octopus taken on a blackwater night dive:

Image: Katherine Lu

In third place is Brook Peterson for captivating a diving cormorant amongst a school of fish. Look closely and you’ll see the shape of a human face:

Image: Brook Peterson

DIY Photography notes the category winners. which include images of posing pods of pilot whales (see in the image right up top), people roving the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean, and shots that provide hope for the well-being of our seas.

The winner of the Conservation Photographer of the Year (Hope) category is Nicolas Remy for his moving shot of a shiver of critically endangered grey nurse sharks off the coast of New South Wales, Australia:

Image: Nicolas Remy

The winner of the Conservation Photographer of the Year (Impact) category is Simon Lorenz for this action-evoking shot of an Olive Ridley sea turtle entangled in a mass of ocean debris:

Image: Simon Lorenz

The Fine Art Photographer of the Year first place award was handed over to Michael Spencer from the UK, who captured waves breaking on a misty morning in Scarborough, Cape Town:

Image: Michael Spencer

There are also Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Adventure Photographer of the Year, and Human Connection Awards to check out, with first, second, and third-place winners for each.

As much as it feels good to have the waves wash over us, perhaps we can’t be caught lying back when it comes to the conservation of our oceans.

Don’t forget SASSI (The Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative), the set of consumer-focused tools to help you make sustainable decisions when shopping for fish products.

That’s at least one thing you can do locally to try and protect our sea and its creatures.

[source:diyphotography]