- The premier exhibition of the Ocean Photographer of the Year opens at the Australian National Maritime Museum this Thursday.
- From 15,000 global entries, a striking collection of winning and finalist images has been chosen.
- Sydney is the first city in the world to showcase the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 finalists in a major museum exhibition.
The ocean is coming into focus at the Australian National Maritime Museum this Thursday. From November 6, the museum will host the world premiere of the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 exhibition, showcasing the finalists of the world’s leading competition for marine photography.
The exhibition features 112 striking images that celebrate our ocean’s beauty and spotlight the importance of marine conservation, as well as bringing awareness to the climate crisis impacting our natural world. From tiny baby pufferfish to majestic humpback whales, the display aims to celebrate the brilliance and diversity of ocean life.
Ms Daryl Karp AM, Director and CEO of the Australian National Maritime Museum, said, “The stories behind these photographs are as compelling as the visuals themselves – they challenge us to see the ocean not just as a place of wonder, but as a world in need of our care.”
Ocean Photographer of the Year Director, Will Harrison, added, ‘These images are far more than just beautiful—they are powerful visual testaments to what we stand to lose, and they remind us of the urgent need for protection.”
Although the winners were announced in London in September, Sydney will be the first city in the world to see the full collection on display.
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The winners:
- Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Hope)- Sirachai Arunrugstichai
- Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Impact)- Hugo Bret
- Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year- Ben Thouard
- Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year- Takumi Oyama
- Ocean Fine Art Photographer of the Year- Marcia Riederer
- Ocean Portfolio Award- Matthew Sullivan
- Young Ocean Photographer of the Year- Aaron Sanders
- Human Connection Award- Craig Parry
- Female Fifty Fathoms Award- Jialing Cai
Indonesia-based underwater photographer Yury Ivanov took home the Ocean Photographer of the Year award for his stunning capture of two tiny “ladybugs of the sea”, each measuring just three millimetres.
Out of the 11 Aussies who were named as finalists, two photographers were named category winners in the competition. Marcia Riederer took out the Fine Art category with her portrait of a Dwarf Minke whale on the Great Barrier Reef (below right), while Craig Parry won Human Connection for a powerful drone image of a stranded Humpback whale rescue attempt on Seven Mile Beach (below left).
Our favourites:
1. Aaron Sanders, United Kingdom, Two bobtail squids
2. Ben Thouard, Portugal, A rough Nazaré Day
3. Daniel Flormann, Indonesia, Dead sharks in an anchovy fish net
4. Yifan Ling, USA, A breaching orca
5. Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn, Vietnam, The morning ritual at Tam Tien beach
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Cover Image: Yuka Takahashi, Young Ocean Photographer of the Year, Third Place
Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 Exhibition
Where: Australian National Maritime Museum, 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, NSW 2000.
When: From Thursday, November 6, 2025.
Price: Special exhibition tickets start at $25 per adult.
Find out more here.
