Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 winners

Photos: Abdulaziz Al Saleh, Enric Gener, Bryan H. Blauvelt, Ruruka, Alvaro Herrero (Mekan), Jenny Stock, Wojciech Dopierala, Bryant Turffs and Shunsuke Nakano / UPY 2025

The winners of the 2025 Underwater Photographer of the Year contest have been announced, showcasing spectacular underwater scenes. The UK-based contest began in 1965, though it appeared in its current form in 2014/2015. It celebrates work across 13 categories, including Portrait, Behavior, Wrecks, Coral Reefs and Macro, with three categories focused on photos taken in British waters.

This year, the contest saw 6750 entries with photographers coming from 28 different countries. Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich and Dr Alexander Mustard MBE served as judges this year. You can find out more and see additional winners at the Underwater Photographer of the Year website.

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: ‘Radiant Bond’

Credit: Alvaro Herrero (Mekan)/UPY 2025

Nationality: Spain

Image caption: Radiant Bond

Country taken: French Polynesia

Location: Mo’orea

Camera: Nikon Z7 II

Lens: Nikkor Z 14-24mm 2.8 s

ISO: 1100

Aperture: F8

Shutter: 1/640

Lighting used: Natural Light

Housing: Isotta

Back story: A mother humpback whale accompanies her calf to the surface for its first breath early in the morning. The youngster is releasing a few bubbles as it rises, perhaps this is because it is still learning to control its breathing, or it is simply experimenting with its own body.

Every year, during the southern winter, I travel to French Polynesia to photograph these majestic animals. My favourite time of day is the early morning, because the light is soft and angled, allowing me to find the perfect angle to clearly define the shape of these animals in blue. For me, this photo is one that shows a mother’s love for her calf, communicating both the fragility and beauty of our oceans, and revealing one of the amazing species with whom we share our home world.

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Macro winner

Credit: Paolo Bondaschi/UPY 2025

Nationality: Italy

Image caption: Magic backlit

Country taken: Anilao, Philippines

Location: Secret Bay, Anilao

Camera: Canon EOS R7

Lens: EF-S60mm f/2.8 Macro USM + wet lens AOI UCL-90PRO

ISO: 100

Aperture: F16.0

Shutter: 1/200

Lighting used: Backscatter MF-1 + Backscatter snoot OS-1

Housing: MARELUX MX-R7

Back story: At the end of this dive, I spotted a couple of underwater photographers focused on shooting and it piqued my curiosity about what they were photographing. I signalled to my guide to check what they were shooting. After realizing that it was one of my favourite subjects, a hairy shrimp, I waited patiently for my turn and used the time to plan and prepare for the shot. I chose to shoot it in profile, backlight with a snoot. My guide and my buddy played a fundamental role in expertly managing the light of the snoot. After a few test shots to find the right setting, I finally got the photo I was looking for.

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Wrecks winner

Credit: Alex Dawson/UPY 2025

Nationality: Sweden

Image caption: Deep wreck

Country taken: Egypt

Location: Gulf Fleet No 31 wreck at Shaabruhr Umm Qammar

Camera: Nikon Z9

Lens: 8-15 fisheye

ISO: 800

Aperture: F4.5

Shutter: 1/80

Lighting used: ambient light

Housing: Nauticam Z9

Back story: The wreck sits on the reef at around 104m depth. When she sank she got wedged between the reef wall and a small reef so there is a swim through under the wreck. We did 25 min bottom time and about 2 1/2 hours of deco to produce this image.

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Behavior winner

Credit: Shunsuke Nakano/UPY 2025

Nationality: Japan

Image caption: Face Off

Country taken: Japan

Location: Sado,Niigata

Camera: Nikon D850

Lens: af nikkor 28-70mm f3.5-4.5 d with Nauticam WACP-1

ISO: 200

Aperture: F16

Shutter: 1/250

Lighting used: INON Z330

Housing: Nauticam NA D850

Back story: This is a photo of two male Asian sheepshead wrasse fighting. The unique form of this species is characteristic of males, who form harems and claim territories during the breeding season. The one on the left in the photo is the harem king, who has defended his territory for more than 10 years and is estimated to be over 30 years old, while the one on the right is a young challenger.

Although I had planned carefully to capture the images, the 2024 season was more difficult to predict than usual, and despite staying there for a week during the breeding season, I was only able to observe this scene once, for just 10 seconds. And this was the only photograph I was able to take. The sight of them fighting in their flashy white outfits was so magnificent I can still remember it vividly.

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Portrait winner

Credit: Abdulaziz Al Saleh/UPY 2025

Nationality: Kuwait

Image caption: Hydration

Country taken: Kuwait

Location: Al Wafra desert

Camera: Nikon Z8

Lens: Nikkor 8-15mm fisheye

ISO: 100

Aperture: F18

Shutter: 1/100

Lighting used: Inon Z330 (dual)

Housing: Nauticam NA-Z8

Back story: I had the idea of photographing the camels drinking water for about one and half a years. I wanted to photograph them drinking water from the underwater perspective because I did not see any images showing this. The weather was a critical, and it took me several weeks to get the best possible shots. The first week the camels were a bit hesitant to drink water while my camera was under the water and only few gathered to drink, which is not what i wanted. But after several days the camels had already accepted to me and my equipment.

After my first week of shooting the Camels, I changed to electronic synch cords for my strobes instead of fibre-optic cables because of problems. And finally the shots came together.

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Coral Reefs winner

Credit: Catherine Holmes/UPY 2025

Nationality: United Kingdom

Image caption: Kaleidoscope of Colour

Country taken: Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Location: Gorgonian Passage, Wayil Batan Island, Misool

Camera: Nikon D500

Lens: Nikon Fisheye. 8-15 (3.5-4.5) @12mm

ISO: 320

Aperture: F11

Shutter: 1/160

Lighting used: Retra Pro strobes- with diffusers

Housing: NA-D500. Nauticam

Back story: Raja Ampat, Indonesia, is a magical destination where the colour, beauty, biodiversity and dense fish life can almost be an overload on the senses- a celebration of healthy reef life. I was lucky to find perfect conditions with clear water and schooling baitfish swirling amongst the canyons of a large coral bommie, adorned with verdant soft corals.

I aimed to capture the reef teeming with life and colour to inspire us all to protect this valuable habitat. All around the world, our oceans, and in particular the coral reefs, are under threat. They are vital habitat for the myriad of species they support, and critical for the oceans health. Climate change, pollution, overfishing and destructive fishing all threaten this environment, and the devastating outcomes are seen worldwide with bleached and dying reefs, with dwindling fish life. Awareness is essential to protect and sustain these precious environments for the future.

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Black & White winner

Credit: Enric Gener/UPY 2025

Nationality: Spain

Image caption: Chasing Dolphins

Country taken: Egypt

Location: Red Sea

Camera: Canon5D Mark IV

Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm 1:2.8 L III USM

ISO: 160

Aperture: F4

Shutter: 1/500

Lighting used: No Lighting

Housing: SeaCam

Back story: This image was captured in the northern Red Sea during a freediving expedition in search of bottlenose dolphins. The moment portrays an intimate mating ritual, where several males—four visible in the picture, though others were nearby—were playfully chasing a female. It was a dynamic and ritualistic display, with the males engaging in friendly skirmishes and occasionally mating with the female, their bodies joining briefly for just a few seconds. Notably, the female was not attempting to escape; she actively participated, playing along and waiting for them. The entire group swam gracefully and at a slow, deliberate pace, creating a mesmerizing underwater scene.

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Up & Coming winner

Credit: Ruruka/UPY 202

Nationality: Korea

Image caption: Aurora Underwater

Country taken: Mexico

Location: Cancun

Camera: Nikon Z8

Lens: Nikon Z 24-50mm F4 with Nauticam WACP-1

ISO: 800

Aperture: F9

Shutter: 1/60s

Lighting used: Natural Light

Housing: Nauticam NA-Z8

Back story: I first travelled to Cancun, Mexico, for a shoot two years ago, and since then, I’ve been captivated by its charm. These days, I find myself visiting Cancun frequently. From where I live, it’s a very long journey – about 24 hours by plane – but this place perfectly aligns with the direction of my photography and offers a variety of shooting opportunities. To capture this particular photo, I visited during the rainy summer season and worked with a local Korean guide as my model.

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: Compact winner

Credit: Bryant Turffs/UPY 2025

Nationality: United States

Image caption: The Beauty of the Swamp

Country taken: United States

Location: Everglades National Park

Camera: GoPro Hero 7 Black

Lens: AOI 0.73x Ultra Wide Lens

ISO: 791

Aperture: F2.8

Shutter: 1/180

Lighting used: N/A – Available

Housing: GoPro Supersuit

Back story: I captured this image at one of my favourite locations within the Everglades ecosystem. Historically, I primarily dove in saltwater, but I have become enamoured by this foreboding environment, with clear waters, light filtering through cypress trees, and the fish species, both native and introduced. I have revisited this spot many times trying to capture various subjects and the light just right. The water levels vary significantly, sometimes completely drying, during different times of year. The fish species are in constant flux, and this location is often dominated by exotics. Ironically, on this occasion, I hadn’t invested too much thought and I was enjoying the scenery when this Florida Gar positioned itself perfectly in the frame of my GoPro.

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: British Waters Wide Angle winner

Credit: David Alpert/UPY 2025

Nationality: United Kingdom

Image caption: The Curious Seal

Country taken: United Kingdom

Location: Lundy Island

Camera: Canon 5D MKiii

Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L iii USM

ISO: 200

Aperture: F8

Shutter: 1/200

Lighting used: 2 x Inon Z330 Strobes

Housing: Nauticam

Back story: North Devon is easily one of the most beautiful coastlines in Britain. High jagged cliffs pounded by an unforgiving sea. With the second highest tide change in the world, the outgoing current whips up against waves and wind rolling in from the North Atlantic. Stand back and marvel.

Diving windows are limited so I based myself in the area for two months last year, exploring different locations. This shot shows a grey seal off Lundy Island, a marine protected area since 1973. Seals are delightfully curious creatures, more interactive than any other species I have dived with around the world. Briefly, I become one of the privileged few, crossing the bridge into the world of a sentient wild animal.

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: British Waters Macro winner

Credit: Dan Bolt/UPY 2025

Nationality: United Kingdom

Image caption: The Hitch Hiker

Country taken: UK

Location: Scotland

Camera: OM Systems OM-1

Lens: Panasonic 45mm macro

ISO: 250

Aperture: F13

Shutter: 1/250th

Lighting used: 2x Sea & Sea YS-D3Duo

Housing: AOI UH-OM1

Back story: Occasionally in my time under the water I have come across this medusa ‘Neoturris pileata’ in the open water but had not taken a decent photo of one. On this occasion however, my buddy and I were specifically targeting them and other similar creatures to try to explore the idea of UK ‘blackwater’ photographic opportunities. Of the many, many(!), images I took that day, this one revealed a larval crustacean within the bell of this medusa. The frames either side of this capture actually show that the larval crab (or lobster) is actually on the outside of the bell, but in this instant it was perfectly on the opposite side from me and hence the effect of being contained within the transparent body.

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025: British Waters Living Together winner

Credit: Dan Bolt/UPY 2025

Nationality: United Kingdom

Image caption: Rusty Haven

Country taken: Scotland

Location: Loch Carron

Camera: OM Systems OM-1

Lens: Olympus 14-42mm with Nautocam WWL-1

ISO: 640

Aperture: F7.1

Shutter: 1/50

Lighting used: 2x Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo

Housing: AOI UH-OM1

Back story: This images shows nature’s ability to make the best of a bad situation. The iron block and heavy chain are actually holding a small barge in-place on the surface where local scallop divers store their equipment. The barge itself is a floating reef system all of it own, and the anchor blocks have attracted many species too.

I was actually practising for a different underwater photography competition when I took this shot. For a couple of days before an on-the-day ‘splash in’ competition, this crab was consistently in this position, or very close by. Sadly on the day it was no-where to be seen! Happily for me though that meant I was able to use my practice photos for UPY!

‘Save Our Seas Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year

Credit: Robert Marc Lehmann/UPY 2025

Nationality: Germany

Image caption: 1 / 200.000.000

Country taken: Indonesia

Camera: CANON R5

Lens: CANON EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM with EF to RF Mount

ISO: 1000

Aperture: F5.6

Shutter: 1/6400

Lighting used: n/a

Housing: n/a

Back story: This tiger shark is just one of around 200 million sharks that lose their lives every year at the hands of humans.

Since I was six years old (35 years+), I have been intensively studying sharks. In all these years, hardly anything has changed and that is frustrating. Sharks protect their habitat, the sea, through their ecological function as “health police”. Over a billion people depend on the sea every day and we all breathe the oxygen that is largely produced in the sea. If we continue to eradicate the animals that guard our largest and most important habitat, we are taking away our own livelihood. And that’s why I’ve been fighting for people to see and understand sharks through my eyes. Every time I take a photo like this, it hurts, but through imagery I can inspire millions of people to understand sharks and their situation and make a difference.

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Image: DJI

DJI announced the Osmo Mobile 7 and 7P smartphone gimbals earlier this week, but that wasn’t the end of things. Now, the company has announced a new version of its lightweight camera gimbal. The RS 4 Mini sees quite a few upgrades over the RS 3 Mini, borrowing features from its more expensive siblings in the flagship RS 4 lineup. DJI focused most of its updates on providing a “more efficient and seamless filming experience,” along with better performance.

In order to streamline the process of using the gimbal, DJI added its automatic axis locks to the RS 4 Mini, which were previously only found on DJI’s flagship gimbals. These allow the stabilizer’s three axis locks to automatically unlock when you turn the gimbal on and automatically lock when turning it off. It is the first DJI gimbal to use the company’s 2nd-Gen axis lock technology that allows it to unlock in only a second. It should be easier and faster to get shooting or pack away the gimbal.

The 3rd-Gen Native Vertical Switch, which DJI says “offers the fastest switch experience in the RS series, ” also makes things more efficient. Plus, DJI updated the folding structure, making the axis arms fold flatter so that they take up less space when packed away.

The DJI RS Intelligent Tracking Module enables automatic subject tracking with any phone or camera. Image: DJI

One of the most exciting new features for solo vloggers is the DJI RS Intelligent Tracking Module, which is included in the RS 4 Mini Combo. This little device is similar to the Multifunctional Module released with the Osmo Mobile 7P, though without the fill light. Like the Multifunctional Module, the Intelligent Tracking Module features a dedicated camera to enable Active Track on any phone or camera. It can track subjects up to 10 meters (33 feet) away, and DJI promises it will function reliably even in complex scenes.

Of course, the main goal of any gimbal is to smooth footage; that has not fallen by the wayside on DJI’s latest camera gimbal. DJI improved the stabilization of the RS 4 Mini, moving the device to its 4th-gen stabilization. This update relies on more advanced algorithms to provide better results for smoother footage. The company also added a new Responsiveness Mode, allowing the gimbal to react better to fast hand movements. As a result, it should provide better results when tracking fast or sudden movement.

Image: DJI

All of these features do result in a slightly heavier weight. The RS 4 Mini comes in at 890g (2lbs), compared to the RS 3 Mini’s 795g (1.75lbs). It maintains the same 2kg (4.4lbs) payload, though, which means it can handle most mirrorless cameras and even quite a few lightweight cinema cameras. Plus, it promises 30% better battery life for a total operating time of 13 hours.

The DJI RS 4 Mini is available for purchase today from DJI’s website and authorized retailers. The standalone DJI RS 4 Mini costs $369, while the DJI RS 4 Mini Combo is $459.

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Buy now:

$369 at DJI

$369 at B&H

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Photo: Leica

Leica has announced an updated version of one of its iconic lenses, expanding the Leica Classic Line in the process. The Summilux-M 50mm F1.4 (I) was launched in 1959 as the first offering under the Summilux umbrella. Thus, the lens has 65 years of history under its belt. This marks the fifth lens in the Leica Classic Line, joining the ranks of the Summaron-M 28mm F5.6, Thambar-M 90mm F2.2, Noctilux-M 50mm F1.2 ASPH and the Summilux-M 35mm F1.4.

The Summilux name is derived from the Latin “summa lux,” which means “maximum light,” in reference to its wide F1.4 aperture. The new lens stays true to its roots in form and function. In fact, Leica says that the Summilux-M 50mm F1.4 (II) is “an almost unchanged version” of the lens that was produced from 1962 to 2004. Indeed, like the original, it features seven lens elements in five groups. It also keeps the 12-blade aperture diaphragm of the historic model.

Photo: Leica

Like the first iteration, the updated Summulux-M 50mm promises “impressive image quality” with soft bokeh at wide apertures. It isn’t all original, though. Leica says that it will be sharper and have higher contrast than its historical predecessor due to modern production techniques. Leica didn’t offer any more details about how that improved quality is achieved, though. “The new edition of this classic lens fulfils all the requirements of modern M-Cameras with a high-resolution sensor,” says Leica. Another benefit of the second edition is a shorter close focusing distance of 0.7m (2.3ft), down from the original version’s 1m (3.3ft).

The Summilux-M 50mm F1.4 (II) features the “Made in Germany” label. It is made by hand from solid brass and comes with a round vintage lens hood. Leica also says it will be the first Leica lens in the newly designed packaging, which does away with all plastic.

The Leica Summilux-M 50mm F1.4 (II) is now available for purchase through Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store and specialist retailers for $3895.

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Buy now:

$3895 at Leica

$3895 at B&H

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Photo: Leica

Photos: Leica

Photo: Leica

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