The finalists for the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 have been revealed, highlighting marine biodiversity and environmental threats. The selection spans several categories, from wildlife to conservation impact, with winners to be named this September.
From New Zealand fur seals to Hawaiian monk seals on Kaimana Beach
The Wildlife category showcases the raw intensity of marine survival, such as a New Zealand fur seal captured from a kayak as it dismantles a rough skate. According to the report, other finalists include a giant oceanic sunfish in Mexico's Baja Peninsula and a scorpionfish consuming a lizardfish,the latter achieved through the use of a "snoot" to isolate the subjects with directed light .
The collection also emphasizes the fragility of life, specifically featuring a Hawaiian monk seal and her week-old pup on Kaimana Beach in Waikīkī. As the report says, these mothers often lose up to a third of their body weight while nursing their pups for six weeks without feeding, a biological struggle captured in the competition's finalists' works.
The collapsed dorsal fin at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
A stark contrast to the natural beauty of the ocean is found in the Conservation (Impact) category, which features a male orca at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China. The image depicts the animal resting motionless on a concrete floor, with a severely collapsed dorsal fin that serves as a visual testament to the stresses of prolonged captivity.
This specific orca was wild-caught as a juvenile from the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia. By highlighting the separation of these animals from their family groups and social environments, the competition uses the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom image to argue against the ethics of marine mammal captivity , framing it as a loss of the essential social structures that define orca life.
Lamalera harpooners and Sydney's Tamarama Beach dolphins
The "Human Connection: People and Planet" category explores the complex relationship between humans and the sea, ranging from traditional hunting to urban coexistence. one finalist captures a harpooner in the Indonesian village of Lamalera leaping from a boat to strike an orca with a hand-thrown weapon, illustrating a centuries-old cultural practice.
In a more modern setting, the finalists include a scene from Tamarama Beach in Sydney, where a pod of dolphins spent over an hour riding waves alongside surfers during a powreful swell. This juxtaposition reflects a broader trend in conservation photography that seeks to document both the exploitation and the harmony existing between human populations and marine species.
Laser-calibrated photogrammetry in French Polynesia
The competition also highlights the intersection of art and marine science, particularly through the study of the Tamataroa, a protected shark species in French Polynesia . Rather than using bait, researchers used laser-calibrated video photogrammetry to transform an anonymous shark into a known individual, allowing scientists to track population trends and sex.
This technical approach is mirrored in the "Ocean Unseen: Hidden Worlds" category, where a photographer used a snoot placed behind coral to create a fiery glow around a shrimp carrying a clutch of eggs. These entries demonstrate how specialized lighting and measurement tools are now essential for documenting the ocean's most elusive inhabitants without disturbing their habitats.
The missing names of the 2026 finalists
While the imagery is detailed,the announcement leaves several key questions unanswered. The report does not name the individual photographers behind these works, nor does it specify the total number of finalists selected across the seven categories. Furthermore, it remains unclear what specific criteria the judges used to differentiate between the "Conservation (Hope)" and "Conservation (Impact)" categories, leaving the distinction to the viewer's interpretation.
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