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Announcing the Winners of the Fourth World Oceans Day Photo Contest

By Ian Bongso-Seldrup, June 8, 2017 @ 09:00 PM (EST)

Overall 2017 World Oceans Day Theme – Winner
Christian Vizl (Mexico)

DPG is pleased to announce the winners and finalists of the Fourth Annual World Oceans Day Photo Competition, jointly organized by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, World Ocean Network, World Festival of Underwater Images, IAEA Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre, and DPG.

As in previous years, the judges selected the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place images from hundreds of entries in five categories: Above Water Seascapes, Human Interaction: Making a Difference, Underwater Life, Underwater Seascapes, and Youth Photographer. A 2017 World Oceans Day Theme winner was selected by the organizers.

Congratulations to the 2017 World Oceans Day Theme winner, Christian Vizl; to the category winners, Gabriel Barathieu (Above Water Seascapes), Gregory Lecoeur (Making a Difference: Humans in Action), Dan Charity (Underwater Life), Alex Lindbloom (Underwater Seascapes), and Jack McKee (Youth Photographer); and to all the runners-up.

The results were announced on World Oceans Day, Thursday, June 8, 2017 at a reception at United Nations Headquarters in New York attended by several hundred delegates. The finalists and winners were announced by well-known underwater photographer Ellen Cuylaerts (Belgium) and their photos were projected in large format.

The finalists’ photographs could feature in physical exhibits around the world, accompanied by a narrative that underlines the importance of the oceans for humanity or as part of awareness-raising activities undertaken by the United Nations. This is in an effort to ensure that the plight of the oceans and its inhabitants remains top of the agenda throughout the year, not just on World Oceans Day itself.

The organizers congratulate all of the winners again and thank everyone who participated in the competition. Thank you for sharing your work, and helping us convey the beauty and value of the oceans.

The photo contest partners wish to thank the curator of the contest, underwater photographer Ellen Cuylaerts, as well as this year’s judges: underwater photographer Adriana Basques; scuba instructor and marine conservationist Kudzi Victorino Dykman; ocean protection campaigner Marine Etard, nature and underwater photographer Darren Jew; underwater photographer Jerome Kim; and conservation photojournalist Thomas Peschak.