This article is brought to you by the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Opening this month at the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 exhibition turns the lens on the planet’s most vital and threatened environment.
The thought-provoking exhibition, which runs until 3 May 2026, captures the wonder and fragility of marine life at a time when both are under strain. You can view 112 finalist and winning images from around the world – including four finalists (and two winners!) from right here in Australia.
This year’s overall winning image comes from Indonesia-based macro photographer Yury Ivanov, who captured two tiny amphipods – nicknamed ‘ladybugs of the sea’ – resting on coral. Measuring just 3mm long, the pair appear suspended in a moment of calm amid the reef. Ivanov’s photograph, selected from more than 15,000 global entries, highlights how even the smallest marine life holds immense beauty and significance.
The two Australian winners include Melbourne photographer Marcia Riederer, who won the Fine Art category for her image of a dwarf minke whale on the Great Barrier Reef’s Ribbon Reefs; and Lennox Head, NSW-based photographer Craig Parry, who won the Human Connection category for his harrowing drone image of a stranded humpback whale on Seven Mile Beach.
“In the early hours of July 2024, our team from Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital received a call about a stranded humpback whale,” Craig says. “The Wildlife Team quickly assessed the situation and contacted SeaWorld Marine Rescue and other key agencies to coordinate a response. Over the next 15 hours, rescue teams and the local community worked tirelessly in a unified effort to save her.
Sadly, despite their dedication, she couldn’t be saved. While the outcome was heartbreaking, the compassion and teamwork shown by everyone involved was deeply moving. It was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when people unite for a common cause.”
Marcia, whose minke whale image emerged from a trip to the Great Barrier Reef where she met about 40 different minke individuals, says winning the award makes her want to continue growing as a photographer and ocean advocate.
“This recognition has truly made me so proud. Listening to the feedback from the judges has grown my confidence a lot,” she says. “I had the opportunity to attend the ceremony in London and the exhibition opening in Sydney. It gave me the opportunity to meet many of the other photographers, and listening to their stories has been very inspiring.”
Meanwhile, Sydney photographer Gergo Rugli was runner-up in the Adventure category for his shot of a surfer on a crisp winter morning at Bronte Beach. And Ningaloo Reef-based photographer Brooke Pyke won third place in the portfolio category for her collection of 10 photos taken in areas ranging from the Western Australian coastline to Raja Ampat in Indonesia, and even the Maldives and Galapagos Islands.
“I really hope that the shots I chose can give viewers a small window into my world, the creatures that make me feel awe and wonder,” Brooke says. “I have a deep attachment to the wild. It’s a part of me. I hope others can feel it for themselves through my photography.
“But more importantly, I want them to know that the feeling they might get is only a drop of the real magic. I want them to yearn for the experience of witnessing these moments in person. Because if more of us have a drive to see wild animals thriving within their environment, our oceans will gain more ambassadors for its protection.”
Ocean Photographer of the Year Director, Will Harrison, says he is in awe of this year’s finalists and adds that their work has the power to inspire change.
“In the midst of a deepening climate and biodiversity crisis on our blue planet, ocean photography has never been more important,” he says. “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.”
Key Details
What: Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025
Where: Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney
When: Until 3 May 2026
Tickets: sea.museum/ocean-photographer
This article is brought to you by the Australian National Maritime Museum
