Alvaro Herrero’s humpback whale mother and calf wins Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025
Spanish photographer Alvaro Herrero has been named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025. His photograph ‘Radiant Bond’ shows the special relationship between a mother humpback whale and her newborn calf.
Herrero’s picture was taken in French Polynesia and triumphed over 6750 underwater pictures entered by underwater photographers from around the world.
‘The mother is accompanying her calf to the surface because the baby is still so small and clumsy,’ said Herrero. ‘The calf is releasing a few bubbles underwater showing it is still learning to hold its breath properly. ‘For me, this photo really shows a mother’s love and communicates the beauty and fragility of life in our ocean.’
‘This delicate yet powerful study of a mother and calf’s bond says all that is great and good about our world,’ said contest judge Peter Rowlands. ‘We face our challenges, but the increasing populations of humpback whales worldwide shows what can be achieved.’
Other winners in the International categories included Shunsuke Nakano from Japan who won the Behaviour category with his photo ‘Face Off’, which shows two extraordinary-looking male Asian sheepshead wrasse jousting over spawning rights.
Abdulaziz Al Saleh, from Kuwait, won the Portrait category with his unique shot ‘Hydration’ showing camels drinking in the desert from below the water; and Bryant Turffs from the United States won the Compact category with ‘The Beauty of the Swamp’, a picture of a prehistoric gar fish taken in the Everglades with a simple GoPro camera.
Other notable winners included Ruruka, from South Korea, who placed first in the PADI-sponsored Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year category for his photo ‘Underwater Aurora’, of a diver in the multi-coloured waters of a Mexican cenote; and Robert Marc Lehmann, whose picture of a tiger shark being hauled ashore in Indonesia won the ‘Save Our Seas Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2025.
The Underwater Photographer of the Year contest is based in the UK and reserves three categories specifically for photographs taken in British waters.
David Alpert was named British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 for his stunning image ‘The Curious Seal’, which was taken near Lundy Island, a marine protected area since 1973.
All the category winners with stories behind their pictures and comments from the judges are featured below:
Category winner: Wide Angle;
Winner: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025
‘Radiant Bond’ – Alvaro Herrero aka Mekan (Spain)/UPY 2025
Location: Mo’orea, French Polynesia
Shot with: Nikon Z7 II; Nikkor Z 14-24mm 2.8 s; ISO: 1100; f/8, 1/640; Natural Light; Isotta housing
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.
Judge’s comments:
What a shot! We usually see a lot of humpback whale images during the judging of the UPY competitions, but this image made us stop immediately. It really shows the excellence of the photographer seeing the moment and also recognizing the right image afterwards while browsing through them on the computer.
The light coming from the left upper corner as well as the perfect movement of the Humpback whale and calf, in addition to the excellent framing and composition make this a truly deserved overall winner for the UPY 2025 contest. I’m was very happy to give this image my final vote as it is an excellent example that a perfectly executed “classic” shot. Well done, Mekan! – Tobias Friedrich
A heartwarming interaction between mum and baby, in a perfectly timed pose of both majestic animals that look so comfortable in their underwater home. The photo invites us to observe, while giving the whales their space, both in the frame and from the photographer. The spearing light is dramatic, while the shadow the calf is casting on its mother is subtle. Mekan won the title of Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year back in 2022 with the saddest of images of humpback, this uplifting family portrait is a perfect counterpoint. – Alex Mustard
The overall winning image represents us as a Competition, and our community as a hobby/sport/profession, to the world at large for a whole year and sometimes it is very difficult to decide between them but this year, for me, this delicate yet powerful study of a mother and calf’s bond says all that is great and good about our world. We face our challenges, true, but the increasing populations of whales worldwide shows what can be achieved. – Peter Rowlands
Category winner: Macro
‘Magic Backlit’, by Paolo Bondaschi (Italy)/UPY 2025
Location: Secret Bay, Anilao, Philippines
Shot with: CANONEOS R7; EF-S60mm f/2.8 Macro USM + wet lens AOI UCL-90PRO; ISO: 100; f/16.0; 1/200; Backscatter MF-1 + Backscatter snoot OS-1; MareLux MX-R7 Housing
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.
Judge’s comments:
Perfect execution and image ! What a nice winning shot for this strong macro category this year. I love the minimalistic approach to a subject which is tiny and not easy to get a crisp shot of. The perfect position of the hairy shrimp is almost too good to be true, but these animals are very skittish and we concluded this is natural perfection, which is also emphasized to the maximum by the very selective lighting by the photographer. – Tobias Friedrich
Category winner: Wrecks:
‘Deep Wreck’, by Alex Dawson (Sweden)/UPY 2025
Location: Gulf Fleet No 31 wreck at Shaabruhr Umm Qammar, Egypt
Shot with: NikonZ9; 8-15 fisheye lens; ISO: 800; f/4.5; 1/80; ambient light; Nauticam Z9 housing
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.
Judge’s comments
Without a doubt one of my favourite photos in the whole competition. And also, as I learn now, one of our deepest. This image is packed with the feeling of adventure, in a finely crafted composition that draws you in with layer upon layer of interest, from foreground corals to the clouds of fish above the wreck. Understandable quality, once you know it was taken by last year’s Underwater Photographer of the Year! – Alex Mustard
Category winner: Behaviour
‘Face Off’, by Shunsuke Nakano (Japan) /UPY 2025
Location: Sado, Niigata, Japan
Shot with: NikonD850; Lens: af nikkor 28-70mm f3.5-4.5 d with Nauticam WACP-1; ISO: 200; Aperture: f/16; Shutter; 1/25o; Lighting: 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.
Judge’s comments
Perfectly timed to capture the moment of the contender challenging the king. The fight for hierarchy is the strongest form of behaviour. Well lit with no distracting background, this image leapt out immediately and continued to be the one to beat off the challengers. – Peter Rowlands
Category winner: Portrait
‘Hydration’, by Abdulaziz Al Saleh (Kuwait) /UPY 2025
Location: Al Wafra desert, Kuwait
Shot with: NikonZ8; Lens: Nikkor 8-15mm fisheye; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/18; Shutter: 1/100; Lighting: 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.
Judge’s comments
Such a joyous image and a portrait of camels certainly took us by pleasant surprise. Great eye contact, well-chosen angle and surface distortions gives you plenty to look at and the lower, childlike, cheeky mouth adds a heartwarming finale to a quality photograph, which is much more than just an eye-catching subject. – Peter Rowlands
Category winner: Coral Reefs
‘Kaleidoscope of Colour’ by Catherine Holmes (UK) /UPY 2025
Location: Gorgonian Passage, Wayil Batan Island, Misool, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Shot with: Nikon D500; ;Lens: Nikon Fisheye. 8-15 (3.5-4.5) @12mm; ISO: 320; Aperture: f/11; Shutter: 1/160; Lighting used: Retra Pro strobes- with diffusers; Housing: Nauticam NA-D500.
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.
Judge’s comments:
This image just screams ‘coral’! It’s also rare to see a vertical image which works well of a coral reef. The light distribution on the image is absolutely beautiful and the reef full of color. A very well-deserved winner of this category. – Tobias Friedrich
Category winner: Black & White
‘Chasing Dolphins’, by Enric Gener (Spain)/UPY 2025
Location: Red Sea, Egypt
Shot with: Canon5D Mark IV; Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm 1:2.8 L III USM; ISO: 160; Aperture: f/4; 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.
Judge’s comments:
This image shows the definition of black and white photography, the composition comes alive with the thoughtful conversion to monochrome. Fantastic image. – Tobias Friedrich
Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025
‘Aurora Underwater’, by Ruruka (Korea) /UPY 2025
Location: Cancun, Mexico
Shot with: NikonZ8; Lens: Nikon Z 24-50mm F4 with Nauticam WACP-1; ISO: ISO800; Aperture: f/9; 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.
Judge’s comments
Extraordinary image with a high technical standard and perfect postproduction of it! The diver is well positioned in the golden ratio while not being in front of anything. The balance of the light from outside which falls into the cave is just an excellent repetition and shows what the image is all about. Well done and a very well-deserved category winner – Tobias Friedrich
Category winner: Compact
‘The Beauty of the Swamp’, by Bryant Turffs (United States) /UPY 2025
Location: Everglades National Park, United States
Shot with: GoPro Hero 7 Black; Lens: AOI 0.73x Ultra Wide Lens; ISO: 791; Aperture: f/2.8; Shutter: 1/180; Natural light; 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.
Judge’s comments
A stunning three-dimensional composition placing this rarely seen Florida gar in its swamp habitat. It is, quite frankly, amazing that this image is shot with a simple GoPro camera demonstrating how many people already have all the gear that they need to capture beautiful underwater photos. – Alex Mustard
British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025
and category winner: British Waters Wide Angle
‘The Curious Seal’, by David Alpert (UK) /UPY 2025
Location: Lundy Island, United Kingdom
Shot with: Canon 5D MKiii; Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L iii USM; ISO: 200; Aperture: f/8; Shutter: 1/200; Lighting; 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.
Judge’s comments
In the UPY competition we usually see a lot of seal images, especially in the British categories. I used to be a soft touch for these images, but having seen so many now, my standards are very high. This image though is truly a stunner! So well framed in the sea weeds and with the light coming from the back in the shallow waters. The composition is completed by the curious look of the seal to the photographer. An excellent portrait. – Tobias Friedrich
Category winner: British Waters Macro
‘The Hitch-Hiker’, by Dan Bolt (UK) /UPY 2025
Location: Scotland, UK
Shot with: OM Systems OM-1; Lens: Panasonic 45mm macro; ISO: 250; Aperture: f/13; 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.
Judge’s comments:
This is a beautiful and rarely see jellyfish, but the wow moment really comes when you spot the hitchhiking shrimp through the transparent bell. Stunning, surprising and novel. – Alex Mustard
Category winner: British Waters Living Together
‘Rusty Haven’, by Dan Bolt (UK) /UPY 2025
Location: Loch Carron, Scotland, UK
Shot with: OM Systems OM-1; Lens: Olympus 14-42mm with Nautocam WWL-1; ISO: 640; Aperture: f/7.1; 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 nowhere to be seen! Happily for me though that meant I was able to use my practice photos for UPY!
Judge’s comments
A well-chosen angle to include just enough background to combine visual depth with location. The chain links starting off powerfully in the foreground then receding delicately out of the scene topped by the small inquisitive fish entering the top of the frame. A worthy winner. – Peter Rowlands
‘Save our Seas’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2025
‘1/200,000,000’, by Robert Marc Lehmann (Germany)/UPY 2025
Location: Indonesia
Shot with: Canon R5; Lens: Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM with EF to RF Mount; ISO: 1000; Aperture: f/5.6; Shutter: 1/6400
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.
Judge’s comments
A stunning, story-telling image, with four men hauling this huge ocean predator onto land. The light is beautiful, the composition immersive and the timing, capturing the fisherman’s gesture, is perfect. Although an everyday occurrence and legal in most places, the man reaching out to stop the photo reveals what his conscience reckons on what they are doing. Powerful photography. – Alex Mustard
Underwater Photographer of the Year is an annual competition, based in the UK, that celebrates photography beneath the surface of the ocean, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools, and attracts entries from all around the world.
The contest was first run in 1965, when Phil Smith was named Underwater Photographer of the Year.
In 2025 the contest attracted 6750 underwater pictures, with the awarded photographers coming from 28 different countries.
The winners were announced in an award ceremony in central London, hosted by The Crown Estate. This year’s judges were experienced underwater photographers Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich and Dr Alexander Mustard MBE.
For a complete listing of all the winning and highly commended photographs in this year’s competition, head to www.underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com
