Remember the Comedy Wildlife Photos Awards from a few weeks ago?
We have some more animal snaps for you to feast on – but this time we are diving deep into the world’s oceans.
Incredible photos from Ocean Photographer of the Year 2021 have been released and, while many are visual spectacles, they also highlight the environmental problems marine life face.
Australian photographer Aimee Jan was selected as the overall Ocean Photographer of the Year 2021, with a stunning image of a green sea turtle surrounded by a school of glass fish – captured on Ningaloo Reef in Australia.
Speaking about the breathtaking photo, Amiee said: ‘I was out snorkelling when one of my colleagues told me there was a turtle under a ledge in a school of glass fish, about 10 metres down.
‘When I dived down to look, the fish separated around the turtle perfectly. I said to her: “I think I just took the best photo I have ever taken.”’
Elsewhere, images of Vietnamese anchovy fishing boats, a green turtle hatchling, diving gannets appear on the list – as well as crocodiles, penguins and blue whales.
However, many of the entries also give a glimpse of the severity of the climate crisis, as organisers asked photographers to ‘shine a light on the beauty of the ocean and the threats it faces’ with their photos.
One shows a seahorse tangled on a medical face mask, while another depicts a lizardfish holding a discarded cigarette in its mouth.
Anyone looking to see the photos in the flesh can do so from September 17 to October 17.
The images are on display at a free, month-long outdoor public exhibition on the Queen’s Walk – by the Thames River in London.
More of the entries can be found below:
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