The Underwater Photographer of the Year competition (UPY) is an annual international photography competition dedicated to showcasing the best underwater photography from around the world. The competition was founded in 2015 by a group of experienced underwater photographers who recognized the need for a high-profile platform to celebrate the beauty and diversity of marine life.
The winning images are displayed in a public exhibition in the UK and featured in a stunning coffee table book. The UPY competition is not only a celebration of the art of underwater photography but also an important platform for promoting awareness of the fragility and importance of the marine environment. The winners of the competition have been announced recently and the winning photographs are breathtaking.
Image credit & More info: underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
OVERALL WINNER / UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2023
Kat Zhou (United States)
BRITISH UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2023
MOST PROMISING BRITISH UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2023
‘SAVE OUR SEAS FOUNDATION’ MARINE CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2023
MARELUX WIDE ANGLE
Winner – J. Gregory Sherman (United States)
Runner Up – Andy Schmid (Switzerland)
Third – Rafael Fernandez Caballero (Spain)
MARELUX MACRO
Winner – Shane Gross (Canada)
Runner Up – Sage Ono ( United States)
Third – Kat Zhou (United States)
WRECKS
Winner – Brett Eldridge (United States)
Runner Up – Nicolai Posininsky (Germany)
Third – René B. Andersen (Denmark)
BEHAVIOUR
Winner – Yury Ivanov (Indonesia)
Runner Up – Wojciech Dopierala (Poland)
Third – Bryant Turffs (United States)
PORTRAIT
Winner – Suliman Alatiqi (Kuwait)
Runner Up – Rafael Fernandez Caballero (Spain)
Third – Thomas Heckmann (Germany)
BLACK & WHITE
Winner – Don Silcock (Australia)
Runner Up – Victor Huertas (Australia)
Third – FABRICE GUÉRIN (France)
COMPACT
Winner – Enrico Somogyi (Germany)
Runner Up – Takeshi Iioka (Japan)
Third – James Rokop (United States)
UP & COMING
Winner – Kat Zhou (United States)
Runner Up – Ollie Clarke (Australia)
Third – Barney Smith (United Kingdom)
BRITISH WATERS WIDE ANGLE
Winner – Theo Vickers (United Kingdom)
Runner Up – MNimmo (United Kingdom)
Third – Nicholas More (United Kingdom)
BRITISH WATERS MACRO
Winner – Kirsty Andrews (United Kingdom)
Runner Up – MNimmo (United Kingdom)
Third – Ryan Stalker (United Kingdom)
BRITISH WATERS LIVING TOGETHER
Winner – Dan Bolt (United Kingdom)
Runner Up – Lukasz Jan Kowalski (United Kingdom)
Third – Henley Spiers (United Kingdom)
BRITISH WATERS COMPACT
Winner – Tony Reed (United Kingdom)
Runner Up – James Lynott (United Kingdom)
Third – Tony Reed (United Kingdom)
SAVE OUR SEAS FOUNDATION MARINE CONSERVATION
Winner – Alvaro Herrero (Mekan) (Spain)
Runner Up – David Alpert (United Kingdom)
Third – Celia Kujala (United States)
Visit the results gallery of their website to see other highly commended photographs. And don’t forget to share your thoughts on these stunning photographs.