The prestigious British competition Ocean Photographer of the Year has named Ben Thouard photographer of the year 2022. Discover the magnificent winners of this competition!
The incredible image by Ben Thouard – beautifully composed and full of texture and action – shows a surfer battling one of the world’s largest waves, Teahupo’o, which translates to « wall of skulls. » Chosen from thousands of submissions worldwide, this shot was unanimously selected by the six world-renowned judges including Paul Nicklen, David Doubilet and Cristina Mittermeier.
Several new categories were added in 2022: wildlife, fine art and the human connection award: man and the ocean. The photographer award for ocean protection was divided into two categories: hope and impact.
The competition Ocean Photographer of the Year has a simple mission: to highlight the beauty of the ocean and the threats it faces. It is organized by Oceanographic magazine.
Photographer of the Year 2022 – Ben Thouard
A surfer faces the underwater turbulence created by the « largest wave in the world, » Teahupo’o, which translates to « wall of skulls. » French Polynesia.
2nd Prize – Katherine Lu
An octopus displays its magnificent patterns and colors. Philippines.
3rd Prize – Brook Peterson
A cormorant dives through a massive school of fish, creating a series of shapes that mimic a human face. United States.
Snorkelers entering the sea via stairs at the end of a pier
Adventure Photographer
1st Prize – Tom St George
A cave diver explores an underwater cave system, surrounded by gigantic formations that have taken millennia to form. Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.
2nd Prize – Franco Banfi
A freediver swims with a matriarchal group of five sperm whales. Dominica.
3rd Prize – Martin Broen
A diver moves through an abandoned cenote that resembles a chasm, as if floating in a haunted forest. Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.
Ocean Protection (Hope)
1st Prize – Nicolas Remy
A school of critically endangered bull sharks off the coast of New South Wales. Australia.
2nd Prize – Andreas Schmid
A stingray swims amid a school of gregarious bannerfish. Maldives.
3rd Prize – Renee Capozzola
Three green turtles gather under the sun in Maui. Hawaii.
Ocean Protection (Impact)
1st Prize – Simon Lorenz
An olive ridley turtle entangled in a mass of ocean debris. Sri Lanka.
2nd Prize – Rafael Fernandez Caballero
A dead sperm whale, stranded and bloodied, its tail showing signs of entanglement. Mexico.
3rd Prize – Dmitry Kokh
Polar bears settle in an abandoned station on Kolyuchin Island. Russia.
Women’s Award Fifty Fathoms – Brooke Pyke
Fine Arts
1st Prize – Michael Spencer
The waves break on a misty morning in Scarborough. United Kingdom.
2nd Prize – Dr Nick More
A porcelain crab feeds in the current. Indonesia.
3rd Prize – Martin Broen
A blue whale and her calf. Mexico.
Human Connection
1st Prize – Steve Woods
A freediver interacts with a sperm whale amid a cloud of sargassum. Dominica.
2nd Prize – Simon Lorenz
A dive guide releases an olive ridley turtle from plastic debris. Sri Lanka.
3rd Prize – Radim Klimes
A surfer floats above a calm sea. Australia.
Portfolio
1st Prize – Matty Smith
2nd Prize – Martin Broen
3rd Prize – Jake Wilton
Wildlife
1st Prize – Rafael Fernandez Caballero
A group of pilot whales poses for a family portrait. Spain.
2nd Prize – Martin Broen
A seemingly giant blue crab feeds in the current. Mexico.
3rd Place – Juan Mizael Palomeque Gonzalez
A manta ray and beautiful symmetry. Mexico.
Young Photographer of the Year – Ryuta Ogawa
A juvenile green turtle takes a breath before its first big journey. Japan.
2nd Prize – Nicolas Hahn
An orca mother and her calf play in the open ocean. Mexico.
3rd Prize – Julian Jacobs
A juvenile brown pelican observes the choppy shallows. United States.
