Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition

Yue Hongjun

Celebrating the beauty of our blue planet by showcasing the wonders of our oceans and the urgent need to protect them. 

Explore the awe-inspiring beauty and fragility of our oceans through the Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition, returning to the Australian National Maritime Museum this November.  

Featuring 118 extraordinary images, this exhibition celebrates the vision of talented photographers from around the world.

A panel of expert judges selected the winning images, celebrating excellence in the categories of The Ocean, Wildlife, Fine Art, Adventure, Conservation (Hope), Conservation (Impact), Human Connection Award, Young Photographer of the Year and the Ocean Portfolio Award.  The exhibition includes the Female Fifty Fathoms Award created in 2021 by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain to promote women in the field. Each year it celebrates one woman’s portfolio of work nominated by her peers.

From breathtaking wildlife encounters and underwater vistas to compelling scenes of human connection with the ocean, each photograph tells a powerful story.

The Ocean Photographer of the Year competition, run by the London based Oceanographic Magazine, is in its 5th year and has quickly achieved recognition amongst photographers around the world

Ticket prices

Adult: $35.00
Family: $89.00
Concession: $30.00
Child: $25.00
Infant: Free
Member: Free

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February

Brisbane: Until 13 July 2025. Amateur Brisbane photographer Alfred Henrie Elliott (1870-1954) extraordinary images lay dormant for decades until they were discovered only recently. This exhibition is curated by seven Brisbane photographers.

Perth: Until 18 May 2025. Henry Roy – Impossible Island draws on 40-years of recollections and observations as it brings together 113 photos taken from 1983 to 2023.

Sydney: Until 31 Dec 2025. PIX, Australia’s first pictorial news weekly, is brought to life in this exhibition, showcasing its archived images and stories for the very first time.

Sydney: Until 30 June. The photographs in Max Dupain: Student Life were taken at the University of Sydney in the early 1950s, a period of rapid change marked by the politics of the Cold War.

Melbourne: Until 26 April 2025. The exhibition features 52 works from the National Portrait Gallery’s collection of dance legends and reflects the freedom and joy of dance and its power to connect.

Canberra: 27 Feb until 20 July 2025. The National Library has invited renowned Australian photojournalist Mike Bowers to select some of his favourite images from the Fairfax Photo Archive.

March

Melbourne: 1 March – 25 May 2025. Featuring the work of approximately 60 artists, The Basement brings to light rare vintage prints from the 1960s – 1980s, from students and teachers of the College’s Diploma of Art & Design (Photography).

Perth: 15 Feb - 3 May 2025. de-centre re-centre highlights the strength and diversity of contemporary photography in Australia. The exhibition explores place and belonging in First Nations, diasporic and queer communities.

Melbourne: Until 6 April. HOME – 22 photographers interpret the theme of “Home” in images ranging from social documentary  to conceptual, portraits, landscapes, and more. 

Canberra: 6 March – 5 April 2025. Counter-sites is an exhibition program bringing together the work of seven artists whose lens-based practices dismantle, dissect and destabilise the complex relationship between photography and place.