The Ocean Photography Awards welcome ocean photographers from all around the world to submit their best images portraying the beauty and splendor of under and above-water ecosystems each year. “The Ocean Photography Awards are both a celebration of our magnificent blue world and a platform to highlight the numerous plights it faces,” the OPA team states on its website.
The winners of this year’s Ocean Photography Awards were just revealed, and they did not disappoint. However, one photo, in particular, has captured many hearts this year and earned the Community Choice Award. The image in question was captured by German photographer Tobias Baumgaertner and depicts two fluffy penguins consoling one other. Tobias’ stunning image was photographed in Melbourne, Australia.
“During times like these, the really lucky ones are those who can be with the person/people they love the most,” Tobias says in the Instagram caption. “These two fairy penguins positioned atop a rock overlooking Melbourne’s skyline stood there for hours, flipper in flipper, observing the shimmering lights of the cityscape and ocean.” Both of these tiny penguins had recently lost their mates and were frequently observed consoling each other.
“A volunteer approached me and informed me that the white one was an elderly lady who had lost her companion, as had the younger male to the left.” “They have met on a regular basis since then, consoling one other and standing for hours together watching the dancing lights of the surrounding metropolis,” the photographer says. “I spent three full nights with this penguin colony before I was able to get this image,” the photographer explains.
“Between not being able or authorized to use any lighting and the small penguins constantly moving, rubbing their flippers on each other’s backs and cleaning one another, it was really difficult to capture a photo, but I got fortunate during one particularly lovely moment.” I hope you appreciate this moment as much as I did.” Tobias, we’re certain of it. “The manner these two lovebirds looked after each other stood out from the rest of the colony.” “While everyone else was napping or running around, those two seemed to just stand there and enjoy every second they had together, holding each other in their flippers and conversing about penguin stuff,” the photographer continues. There are six categories in the Ocean Photography Awards: The Ocean, Conservation, Adventure, Exploration, Young Photographer, Community Choice, and Collective Portfolio. If you want to see all of this year’s winners and finalists, go to the Ocean Photography Awards’ official website.
Look at the first-place winners in the remaining categories.
