Off the coast of Kumejima, Japan, photographer Steven Kovacs captured a stunning image that would go on to win Best in Show for the prestigious 2025 Ocean Art Photography Contest. Kovacs embarked on a journey to the Okinawa prefecture in search of a rarely documented species of larval goosefish. After spending nearly two weeks blackwater diving, Kovacs finally managed to capture the elusive creature on camera.
Describing the encounter, Kovacs shared, “This beautiful little fish proved to be quite challenging to photograph. However, after spending some time observing it, I was incredibly lucky that it yawned just as I was taking the shot.” The resulting photograph, aptly titled “Tired Fish,” showcases the unique moment when the larval goosefish revealed its mouth in a yawn.
The Ocean Art Photography Contest, which received thousands of entries from over 90 countries, celebrates the beauty and diversity of underwater life. From silky sharks in Cuba to small pipefish in Indonesia, each photograph captures fleeting moments that often go unnoticed. Winners of the contest were awarded over $60,000 in prizes, including diving excursions, cruises, and liveaboard trips.
For a closer look at the winning images across 14 distinctive categories, viewers can explore the online gallery on the contest’s website. The captivating photographs offer a glimpse into the mesmerizing world beneath the ocean’s surface, showcasing the incredible beauty and complexity of marine life.
Among the winning images is Kirsty Andrews’ “Egg Eater,” which features the eggs of a Spanish dancer forming delicate pink coils, with a sea slug peering out from among them. Another striking photograph, captured by Paul Eijkemans, showcases a group of Costasiella sea slugs exploring a leaf in Indonesia. Byron Conroy’s “Last Light” offers a glimpse of silk sharks in the Jardines Del Reina marine park in Cuba, while Paolo Bausani’s “True Colors” captures a Cratena Peregrina feeding on its prey in the Mediterranean Sea.
Marco Lausdei’s “Alien Invasion” features a dozen manta rays swimming towards the camera in the Maldives, while Mehmet Gungen’s “Caribbean Reef Shark Blur” captures a swift-moving Tiger Shark in the waters of the Bahamas. Lastly, Daniel Sly’s “Between the Polyps” showcases a pughead pipefish peeking out from behind corals in the Lembeh Strait of Indonesia.
These breathtaking images not only highlight the incredible beauty of the underwater world but also serve as a reminder of the importance of preserving and protecting our oceans. As we marvel at these stunning photographs, we are reminded of the wonders that lie beneath the surface and the urgent need to conserve and protect our marine ecosystems.
