The Ocean Photographer of the Year Finalists Highlight the Sorrowful and Sublime

Our oceans are places of mystery and biological wonders as much as they are essential to communities’ livelihoods. We tap these expansive bodies of water for recreation, food, transportation. From the Atlantic to the Arctic, oceans cover around 70 percent of the earth’s surface, and there is an incredible wealth of life yet to be discovered.

As the continuing climate crisis melts ice caps and raises sea levels, and industrial fishing and waste threatens endangered marine animals and habitats, reminders of the oceans’ irreplaceable value and power are ever more critical. That’s where Oceanographic magazine and Blancpain’s annual Ocean Photographer of the Year contest comes in as a catalyst for conservation.

This year’s finalists span categories from Adventure and Human Connection to Ocean Unseen and Conservation. To really delve into the complexity of issues facing our saltwater expanses, the latter is organized in two parts: Hope and Impact. Throughout, there is a sense that in order for people to really become aware of the problems facing our oceans, let alone feel motivated to act, we need to understand both the beauty and the terribleness of these waters, whether inherent or human-inflicted.

Founder and director Will Harrison describes the contest as a platform for stories to reach the world. “These photographs don’t just capture what’s beneath the surface; they surface the stories our planet most needs us to hear. As the pressures on our ocean grow, so does the importance of the artists who bear witness to them.”

The winners will be announced in September. See all the finalists in the competition’s online gallery, and follow updates on Instagram.

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