The 2021 Ocean Photography Award is making a final call for entries. It is open for entries of ocean-related imagery with the following themes: Ocean Conservation, Ocean Exploration, Ocean Adventure, Young Ocean, Community Choice, and Portfolio. There are editions awards for inspirational women and a grand prize winner. Entries are open now and close on 31 July 2021.

Press release

Ocean Photography Awards 2021 – entries close next week!

• Raising money for ocean conservation.
• More than £500,000 worth of prizes.
• Open to ALL ocean photographers, including underwater, topside, and coastal.
• Submissions open until July 31st, 2021.
• Photographs do not have to be new, they just can’t have won another award.
• Winners announced in September 2021.
• Public exhibition in London for winning images.

July 23, 2021: There isn’t much time left to submit entries into the Ocean Photography Awards 2021 – entries close next week!

It’s time to get sorting through those hard drives and pick your entries for this year’s awards. And remember, photographs don’t have to be new, they just can’t have won another award. That’s right – your pre-pandemic photographs are eligible. The Ocean Photography Awards have a simple mission: to shine a light on the beauty of the ocean and the threats it faces, all while raising money for its protection.

The Awards are an opportunity for all ocean photographers – divers, surfers, and sailors alike – to share their art with the world. In 2020, winning photographs were shared with more than 500 million people.

This year’s submissions will once again be judged by a panel of some of the world’s leading ocean photographers, including International Photography Hall of Fame inductee Paul Nicklen, founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers, Cristina Mittermeier, and Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Shawn Heinrichs.

Six categories will be judged, with the winner of each category awarded a selection of prizes. Several career-changing opportunities are also on offer, including a one-year residency of the SeaLegacy Collective. The prizes on offer are valued at more than £500,000.

There is also a special award this year – the Female Fifty Fathoms Awards. Which female ocean photographer most inspires you? Nominate her for the FFF Award!

But be quick! Time is running out - entrants have until July 31st, 2021 to enter their images or make their nomination! Winners, including the overall winner – the Ocean Photographer of the year 2021 – will be announced in September. A stunning London exhibition will follow, where all winning images will be put on public display. The exhibition will be free to visit.

The full judging panel is: Paul Nicklen, Cristina Mittermeier, Shawn Heinrichs, Andy Mann, John Weller, Ami Vitale and Andre Musgrove. More information on each of the judges can be found on the Ocean Photography Awards website.

The Ocean Photography Awards is produced by Oceanographic Magazine, in partnership with Blancpain, Princess Yachts, and Western Australia, and in support of SeaLegacy.