News

DPG is very pleased to announce the winners and finalists of the Seventh Annual United Nations World Oceans Day Photo Competition, jointly organized by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea Office of Legal Affairs, World Ocean Network, Oceanic Global, Blancpain and DPG. The judges were tasked with selecting 1st, 2nd and 3rd place images from hundreds of entries in 10 categories. A 2020 World Oceans Day Theme winner was also selected by the organizers.

Congratulations to Joanna Smart, whose winning image in the World Oceans Day 2020 theme category “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean” was this year’s overall winner; to the other category winners, Leighton Lum (“Rejuvenation”), Hannes Klostermann (“Underwater Seascapes”), Michael Gallagher (“Underwater Life”), Geo Cloete (“Above Water Seascapes”), Renata Romeo (“Human Interaction: Making a Difference”), Sirachai Arunrugstichai (“Clean Our Ocean”), Francisco Sedano (“Digital Ocean Photo Art”), Kyla McLay (“Youth”), and Matthew Potenski (“Science in Action: Ocean Decade 2021–2030”); and to all the runners-up.

The winners were announced by the judges during today’s UN World Oceans Day 2020 Virtual Event. Finalists’ images will be further featured in a UN virtual exhibit, and physical exhibits are also planned as part of the UN’s awareness-raising activities.

The contest partners would like to thank competition curator Ellen Cuylaerts and this year’s judges—Adriana Basques, Adam Hanlon, Jill Heinerth, Darren Jew, Jane Morgan, Amos Nachoum, Miriam Stein Battles, David Salvatori, and John Thet—as well as theme category “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean” judge Jim Standing. The organizers congratulate all of the winners again and would like to thank everyone who participated. Thank you for sharing your work, and helping us convey the beauty, fragility and value of the oceans.

Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean
 

Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean and 2020 World Oceans Day Theme winner: Joanna Smart (Australia)
 

Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean – 2nd Place: Edwar Herreño (Colombia)
 

Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean – 3rd Place: Franck Gazzola (France)
 

Rejuvenation
 

Rejuvenation – Winner: Leighton Lum (USA)
 

Rejuvenation – 2nd Place: Flavio Vailati (Italy)
 

Rejuvenation – 3rd Place: Lluís Masuet (Spain)
 

Underwater Seascapes
 

Underwater Seascapes – Winner: Hannes Klostermann (Germany)
 

Underwater Seascapes – 2nd Place: Yung-Sen Wu
 

Underwater Seascapes – 3rd Place: Matthew D. Meier (USA)
 

Underwater Life
 

Underwater Life – Winner: Michael Gallagher (UK)
 

Underwater Life – 2nd Place: Greg Volger (USA)
 

Underwater Life – 3rd Place: Celia Kujala (USA)
 

Above Water Seascapes
 

Above Water Seascapes – Winner: Geo Cloete (South Africa)
 

Above Water Seascapes – 2nd Place: Marcin Zajac (Poland)
 

Above Water Seascapes – 3rd Place: Simon Hilbourne (UK)
 

Human Interaction: Making a Difference
 

Human Interaction: Making a Difference – Winner: Renata Romeo (Italy)
 

Human Interaction: Making a Difference – 2nd Place: Dave Valencia (USA/Mexico)
 

Human Interaction: Making a Difference – 3rd Place: Sirachai Arunrugstichai (Thailand)
 

Clean Our Ocean
 

Clean Our Ocean – Winner: Sirachai Arunrugstichai (Thailand)
 

Clean Our Ocean – Runner-up: Joe Daniels (UK)
 

Digital Ocean Photo Art
 

Digital Ocean Photo Art – Winner: Francisco Sedano (Spain)
 

Digital Ocean Photo Art – 2nd Place: Galice Hoarau (France)
 

Digital Ocean Photo Art – 3rd Place: Víctor Núñez (Spain)
 

Youth
 

Youth – Winner: Kyla McLay (USA)
 

Youth – 2nd Place: Ankit Kumar (Singapore)
 

Youth – 3rd Place: Jasmin Pegge (UK)
 

Science in Action
 

Science in Action – Winner: Matthew Potenski (USA)
 

Science in Action – 2nd Place: Franck Gazzola (France)
 

Science in Action – 3rd Place: David Palfrey (UK)