Julien Anton wins 2026 Ocean Photographer of the Year

Julien Anton has been named the 2026 Ocean Photographer of the Year for his black-and-white portrait of an adult seahorse with two juveniles, captured in the waters of Moorea, French Polynesia. The competition, presented by Oceanographic magazine and Blancpain, received over 15,000 entries from around the world.

Other major award recipients include Jenny Stock, who received the Female Fifty Fathoms Award for her ocean photography portfolio. Matty Smith won the Fine Art category for a portrait of a tawny nurse shark in the Maldives. Additional category winners featured dolphins in Sydney, Australia, and conservation efforts involving pilot whales in Cape Verde.

Anton, who describes himself as a hobbyist rather than a professional, expressed hope that his image serves as a bridge between science and conservation. The awards recognize both the aesthetic beauty of marine life and the environmental threats facing global ocean ecosystems.