The mesmerizing image of two small, vibrant “sea ladybugs” won the 2025 Ocean Photographer of the Year Award.
Photos taken by Indonesia-based photographer Yury Ivanov at a local diving site in Bali depict two amphipods, according to a press release from Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain on Thursday.
“It took a lot of patience and precision to properly compose and illuminate the shots,” Ivanov said in a statement. “The results reveal an intimate glimpse into underwater life, which is often overlooked.”
Winning the competition is “an incredible feeling,” Ivanov added. “The award is about celebrating the ocean itself, not just one image. Its vulnerability, diversity and the extraordinary power that inspires us.”
His photos were selected as the overall winner from a field of over 15,000 images submitted by photographers around the world, as well as winners from nine categories.
The winners in the category include stunning shots of personal vessels navigating the enormous waves at Portugal’s famous Nazareth Surf Spot. An unforgettable image of a long-thrown pilot whale fetus under the body of a dead mother during the whale hunting season in the Faroe Islands. And a beautiful photo of a female yellow pygmy fish releasing a new hatgeous larvae from her mouth.
“The winner of this year’s Ocean Photographer of the Year reminds us that photography is more than art. It reminds us that it’s a bridge. Their images connect people to the ocean in ways that cannot be spoken, and they cannot dive into it or paddle, but their lives are deeply intertwined.
“In an era of planetary urgency, this year’s photographers invite the world to see, feel and ultimately take care of them. Their work is important.
The winning photos form part of the Ocean Photography of the Year exhibition, which will be the first stop at Sydney’s Australian National Maritime Museum from November 6th.
Editor’s Note: Call to Earth is a CNN edited series that promises to report on the environmental challenges the planet faces, along with solutions. Rolex’s Permanent Planet Initiative is partnering with CNN to promote awareness and education on key sustainability issues and encourage positive action.
