Close-up of octopus mom and her babies win 2022 Ocean Art underwater photo contest

The Underwater Photography Guide has announced the results of its Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition for 2022. One of the world’s largest underwater photo contests hasn’t disappointed, and ahead of you is a selection of marvelous photos taken in the underwater realm.

“It is clear from this year’s winning images that our community of underwater photographers has dived into a new and exciting post-pandemic era,” the contest organizers write. As the travel ban was lifted in most of the world, it allowed divers and underwater photographers to travel, discover, and photograph the vibrant and exciting underwater world.

The “best in show,” or the overall winner shows a moving moment from an octopus. Kat Zhou captured it in Palm Beach, Florida, and depicts the bittersweet final days between a mother octopus and her young before dying of old age. This image also brought Zhou the first place in Macro category.

This year’s competition received thousands of entries from photographers from 96 countries. They submitted their work to 14 different categories, and this year, the contest debuted a new Mobile Phone category. “We hope this category will inspire new underwater photographers and explorers to tell their own stories,” the organizers write.

Nirupam Nigam, Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and a partner in Bluewater Photo and Bluewater Travel commented:

“The winners of Ocean Art 2022 surprised me. I expected an ‘instagramable’ moment to steal the show. Instead, each image is that of photographic excellence or poetic reflection of the natural world around us. These images will be seared in my mind of years to come.”

As the world resumes activities once considered normal, Ocean Art 2022 is a testament to the promise of novel photographic talent and innovation ahead. I leave you now to enjoy this year’s winners and make sure to check out more photos and details on the contest’s website.

Wide-Angle

Macro

Marine Life Behavior

Portrait

Coldwater

Nudibranchs

Blackwater

Underwater Conservation

Underwater Art

Black & White

Compact Wide Angle

Compact Macro

Compact Behavior

Mobile Phone