From Coral Reefs to Tiny Critters: Our Favorite UPY 2025 Images

This past Thursday, the winners of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 were announced at the awards ceremony in London. On Friday, we shared many of the winning images, but for our newsletter feature, we wanted to take a more personal approach—focusing on the images that resonated with us the most. Each of us has chosen three favorites from this year’s competition, and in this article, we’ll share what makes them stand out.

Andy’s Three Favorite Images

Kaleidoscope of Colour by Catherine Holmes (UK) – Winner, Coral Reefs Category

When I first saw Kaleidoscope of Colour by Catherine Holmes, I appreciated it as a beautiful scene. The more I look at it, the more I discover in the image, the more it grows on me—and now I love it. The explosion of color, the density of fish, and the sheer vibrancy of the reef make it the kind of image people imagine when they think of a pristine coral reef. It’s a stunning representation of underwater beauty.

Cathy captured this scene in Raja Ampat, Indonesia—a place she describes as "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." She had the perfect conditions: clear water, schooling baitfish swirling around a massive coral bommie, and lush soft corals creating an almost dreamlike backdrop. Her goal was to portray a reef teeming with life, a vision meant to "inspire us all to protect this valuable habitat."

Our oceans, and coral reefs in particular, face growing threats from climate change, pollution, and destructive fishing. Cathy’s image is not just a testament to the reef’s beauty but a reminder of what’s at stake. "The devastating outcomes are seen worldwide," she notes, "with bleached and dying reefs, with dwindling fish life. Awareness is essential to protect and sustain these precious environments for the future."

It’s no surprise that this image stood out to the judges. Tobias Friedrich praised how the composition works so well despite being a vertical shot—something not often seen in coral reef photography. "This image just screams 'coral'!" he said. "The light distribution is absolutely beautiful, and the reef is full of color. A very well-deserved winner of this category."

What makes this shot even more remarkable—at least to me—is that apparently, I was actually Cathy’s dive buddy when she took it. I have no idea what I was doing at the time, clearly not taking award-winning photographs, but I’m glad she made good use of the dive. Looking at her final image, I can’t help but admire how she captured the perfect balance of motion, light, and life on the reef. Kaleidoscope of Colour is everything you could hope for in a coral reef photograph—both a celebration of underwater beauty and a call to protect it.

Dazzling Donut Doto by Bryan H. Blauvelt (USA) – Runner-Up, Macro

I have yet to see a Doto nudibranch in person, so I’ll admit I’m a little jealous of this shot. Bryan not only found one but captured it with exceptional technique and artistry. His composition is beautifully balanced, with the nudibranch positioned in the top right half of the frame, drawing the viewer’s eye immediately to the intricate details of this tiny subject. What really stands out to me, though, is his lighting choice—the subtle blue backlight on the hydroid adds depth without overpowering the scene, and he managed to illuminate the Doto itself without spilling light onto its delicate perch. Given that snooting a nudibranch in a moving current is no easy feat, extra credit goes to Bryan for nailing such precise control.

Bali, Indonesia, provided the perfect backdrop for this image, a place Bryan describes as "a stunning tropical paradise known for its lush rice terraces, vibrant culture, pristine beaches, and sacred temples." The muck and rubble slopes of Tulamben are particularly rich in macro life, offering "a steady stream of mind-blowing critter encounters to the delight of any underwater photographer." Among them, Doto greenamyeri stood out to him as a must-photograph subject. "I wanted to leave this inspirational place with a unique image," he explains. Using a snoot to create a dramatic glow on the nudibranch and backlighting the hydroid with subtle blue light, he achieved a striking balance in the composition. Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without the help of his guide, Rudolfi Sikome. "Thank you to my incredible guide at Alam Batu for holding a torch in position for the backlighting effect on this image, and for a productive and fun week of photography!"

Judge Alex Mustard recognized the precision and effort behind the shot, noting how Bryan’s lighting and composition perfectly complemented the intricate patterns of the nudibranch. "The sea slug is sitting on a delicate hydroid that moves in the current. It must have taken tremendous dedication to craft such a perfect frame."

Bryan’s Dazzling Donut Doto is a masterclass in patience, technique, and creative lighting. It’s a well-earned runner-up in the macro category and a fantastic example of what’s possible with the right combination of skill and vision.'

Jellyfish Hangout by Martin Stevens (UK) – Highly Commended, British Waters Wide Angle

The striking contrast in this image is what immediately caught my eye—the vibrant pink jellyfish set against the golden seaweed, their delicate forms reflected in the water’s surface. The scene feels almost surreal, a perfectly composed moment of nature’s artistry. The one critique I have of this image is the blank spot in the lower left corner of the frame but otherwise a real beauty.

For Martin Stevens, jellyfish are a favorite subject, and he often photographs the impressive species that frequent Cornwall’s waters. But last year brought an unexpected twist. "Unusually, there were loads of reports of mauve stingers being seen around the Cornish coast (this species is usually very rare)," he explains. Frustratingly, none had made their way to Falmouth, leaving him resigned to missing the spectacle entirely. Then, just when he least expected it, opportunity struck. "On a day when a few of us were out to film and photograph some rock pool animals, we found huge numbers washing up on the beach and swimming in the tidal pools." Wasting no time, he suited up and slipped into the water. "I got into my wetsuit, snorkelled in a low shore pool, and happily captured this photo of a group of these beautiful animals where they had collected against the bright yellow seaweed."

Judge Peter Rowlands was equally captivated by the composition, praising its "pastel delicate subjects complimented by the weed." He noted how the rare aggregation was "well lit overall and perfected by the surface reflections," calling it "a celebratory image for British waters."

Martin’s Jellyfish Hangout is a testament to the rewards of persistence and being in the right place at the right time. It’s a visually stunning scene that makes you appreciate the unexpected beauty British coastal waters can offer.

Byron’s Three Favorite Images

Donald Duck Vintage Style by Paulo Isgro (Italy) – Highly Commended, Macro

I am a macro fan. I adore the creativity that macro shooting offers and using a vintage lens as Paulo has done here in such a striking manner immediately made the image stand out to me. Using a vintage lens is difficult, manual focus, a lack of DOF and soft edges make it hard to get a perfect shot. But the way Paulo has used the incredible Bokeh the lens produces on a natural crinoid background makes for a very powerful image.

The colors of the crinoid and the shrimp match wonderfully and blend together beautifully. Artificial backgrounds are popular in macro these days as people move away from black backgrounds, but this image shows how a colorful natural background will always outperform artificial backgrounds.

UPY Judge Tobias Friedrich comments “An excellent subject and background choice to emphasise the effect this lens creates! The subject is well placed leaving the negative space to be filled with the subtle colour and patterns of the lens effect on the crinoid, well done!“

A Frondly Snoot Boop by Patrick Webster (USA) – Third, Macro

The portrait category is widely contested, but this image stands out even amongst the other winners. A portrait shot should make you connect with the subject, and this subject really draws you in. Even as a viewer, you feel your’e part of the scene; you are immediately immersed within it and charmed by the character of the sea lion

The kelp forest background really adds to the image, and the lighting on the face of the sea lion is subtle and even, but still sufficient. The only criticism I would have is to draw the highlights down on the left of the image a touch. This shot is a shot every shooter would want in their portfolio, but more than that it shows an experience every diver would love to have.

UPY Judge Tobias Friedrich comments “Such a quality portrait! It made everyone of us smile when we saw the image. Excellent capture by the photographer and very well lit, which is not easy when the seals are coming so close. The background really completes the image adding overall balanced. Another strong contender in a high quality category.”

FLUO SPINY SQUAT LOBSTER by James Lynott (UK) – Most Promising British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025

Often great photography is about having a vision, being persistent and going on a journey to greatness over a period of time. I have, for a long time been watching James’ work and his instagram posts of Fluo images. Over time they have gotten better and better so to see this fantastic shot come up in UPY was a real pleasure. James has mastered the techniques of fluo shooting and is reaping the rewards.

The image is very powerful, not just for the techniques used to highlight the species, but also for the striking symmetrical composition and engaging subject matter. British waters are not famous for being colorful but by using this technique in the murky UK waters he is managing to create powerful, vibrant colorful images that stand out from the crowd. I agree with Peter Rowlands comment that the image may have gone even further in the competition with a vertical presentation.

UPY judge Peter Rowlands comments “James’s fluorescent exploration of British waters has revealed another stunning subject when photographed with this technique. A little more contrast in processing, a tiny crop and a rotation into vertical and this truly memorable shot could have gone all the way...”

Conclusion

This year’s Underwater Photographer of the Year competition once again showcased the incredible talent and dedication of photographers around the world. From the vibrant chaos of a thriving coral reef to the delicate precision of macro subjects and the unexpected beauty of British waters, each image tells a unique story about life beneath the surface. The winning and commended photographs don’t just capture marine life; they evoke emotion, highlight conservation concerns, and inspire us to explore and protect our underwater world.

As we wrap up our selections, we’re reminded that great underwater photography isn’t just about technical skill—it’s about patience, creativity, and the ability to see beauty in the smallest of details or the grandest of scenes. We hope these images inspire you as much as they’ve inspired us.

Check out the full collection by downloading the yearbook at www.underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com.