The Underwater Photographer of the Year competition celebrates breathtaking photography beneath the surface of the ocean, lakes, rivers, and swimming pools, drawing entries from all around the world. But behind every stunning image is an equally compelling backstory of patience, determination, and a profound connection with nature. Here is a look at the deeply personal journeys that made these winning shots possible.
Seizing the Fleeting Light
For Australian photographer Matty Smith, capturing the winning portrait—and ultimately the title of Underwater Photographer of the Year 2026 —was a masterclass in timing. Traveling to Sealion Island in the Falklands, his goal was to witness elephant seal pups learning to navigate life alone. Smith explained that once their pups are weaned, elephant seal mothers abandon them ashore.
He spent time watching dozens of these abandoned pups clamber over one another in shallow rockpools, awkwardly learning how to swim. On his very first evening, the sky ignited with vibrant color. Prompted by the sudden beauty, he rushed into the water to capture a handful of frames before the light vanished entirely. It turned out to be the defining moment of the long trip, proving that sometimes, you simply cannot hesitate when nature sets the stage.
Stepping Through Ancient Windows
In the depths of Mexico, two photographers found profound inspiration within the country's ancient cenotes—subterranean water-filled sinkholes that offer a gateway to another world.
For Jinny Kim, diving into a section of the Nohoch Nah Chich cave system known as "Heaven’s Gate" was a profound shift from the present into the distant past. In this sacred space, she aimed to photograph the exact moment where humanity, light, and deep darkness converged alongside the ephemeral trail of a diver's rising bubbles. Her goal was to capture the sheer awe and raw connection with the planet's hidden wonders.
Nearby, in Cenote Dos Pisos, Manuel Wüthrich was captivated by powerful tree roots piercing a cave ceiling. They reached deep into the water like veins, connecting the subterranean world with the life above. Wüthrich and his team meticulously planned a specialized cave dive to reach this exact spot safely. For a brief moment in the silence, he felt as though the stone, water, light, and time merged into a single breathing organism, allowing him to capture the power of life that finds its way even in the most unlikely places.
Creating Calm in the Turmoil
Sometimes, capturing a dream subject requires an artist to orchestrate the environment itself. In Tulamben, Bali, SeongCheol Cho experienced a series of firsts—a new location, a new guide, and working with continuous lighting—while hoping to photograph a commensal shrimp living within a naturally spiraling whip coral.
When he finally found the brightly colored shrimp resting in its deep green nest, he decided to get creative. By purposefully introducing red and blue lights against the green coral, Cho crafted a sense of intense beauty combined with visual turbulence. This dynamic lighting perfectly contrasted with the absolute stillness of the tiny shrimp resting at the center of the frame, making the realization of his long-held dream especially memorable.
Witnessing an Ancient Ritual
Not all winning backstories happen in tropical locations; some extraordinary encounters unfold in the cooler waters of the United Kingdom. In the Sea of the Hebrides, Scotland, Evan Johnston set out to capture the raw beauty of marine life for the British Waters Wide Angle category.
What began as a sighting of two large sharks feeding at the surface slowly escalated over the course of the day, with three, then four, and finally five sharks appearing. After most of the group had departed, Johnston turned around and was greeted by an unforgettable sight. The remaining sharks had stopped feeding and formed a tight shoal. Breaking off, they began swimming in slow, rhythmic circles before eventually spiraling into the deep. This mesmerizing behavior, known as a Torus, is thought to be a mysterious courtship ritual and a precursor to mating. Observing these giants slowly circle for hours felt like witnessing an ancient, hidden ritual, making it an incredible and awe-inspiring moment to capture on camera.
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