A mesmerizing underwater image of two tiny yet radiant creatures—often called the “ladybugs of the sea”—has earned the top honor at the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 competition.
Captured by Indonesia-based photographer Yury Ivanov at his local dive site in Bali, the award-winning photo features a pair of delicate amphipods perched on coral. Each creature measures barely three millimeters in height, yet the shot reveals a strikingly detailed portrait of ocean life that is usually invisible to the human eye.
“It required a lot of patience and precision to compose and light the shot properly,” Ivanov explained in a statement released by organizers Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain. “The result reveals an intimate glimpse of underwater life that is often overlooked.”
For Ivanov, the recognition carries deeper meaning. “Winning the competition is an incredible feeling,” he said. “This award is not just about one image, but about celebrating the ocean itself—its fragility, its diversity, and its extraordinary power to inspire us.”
Chosen from 15,000 Entries
Ivanov’s image rose above a remarkable field of more than 15,000 submissions from photographers around the globe. Alongside the overall winner, judges also selected nine category winners, each highlighting a unique relationship between humanity and the sea.
Among the standout winners:
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A dramatic shot of a personal watercraft braving towering waves at Nazaré, Portugal, one of the world’s most famous big-wave surf spots.
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A haunting image from the Faroe Islands showing a long-finned pilot whale fetus lying beneath the body of its dead mother during the controversial whale hunting season.
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A delicate, close-up portrait of a female yellow pygmy goby fish releasing her newly hatched larvae from her mouth, showcasing the ocean’s smallest but most extraordinary life cycles.
Photography as a Bridge
Competition director Will Harrison praised the entrants for using photography to create emotional connections to the marine world.
“The winners of this year’s Ocean Photographer of the Year remind us that photography is more than art—it is a bridge,” Harrison said. “Their images connect people to the ocean in ways words cannot, reaching those who may never dive in it or paddle on it, but whose lives are deeply intertwined with it.”
He added that the photographs come at a pivotal time. “In a time of planetary urgency, this year’s photographers invite the world to see, feel, and ultimately care. Their work is critical, because we protect what we understand.”
Exhibition Debut in Sydney
The winning images will be featured in a traveling exhibition, beginning at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney on November 6, 2025. From there, the collection is expected to tour globally, offering audiences the chance to engage with the ocean’s wonders and vulnerabilities through the power of visual storytelling.
As Ivanov’s “ladybugs of the sea” image illustrates, the Ocean Photographer of the Year competition is more than just a celebration of technical skill—it is a call to appreciate, protect, and be inspired by the fragile beauty of our oceans.
