The winners and finalists of this annual competition have already been announced whose highest honors have been received by Galice Hoarau, a French professor of marine molecular ecology, for an electrifying image of an eel larva during a blackwater dive off the coast of Indonesia when the rare creatures can be seen emerging from the black ink of the depths of the ocean. The image was chosen from more than 6,000 entries from 52 countries.
“What makes blackwater diving so magical is the abundance of planktonic creatures that are rarely seen when they participate in one of the largest daily migrations of any animal on Earth,” explains Hoarau. “After sunset, small pelagic animals (like this larva) rise near the surface to feed where sunlight has allowed planktonic algae to grow. At dawn, they dive into the depths and stay there during the day to escape predators. “
The rest of the curated list highlights the rarely seen close-up textures and details of animals, insects, plants, and the man-made world.
This pageant was founded in 2018 by husband and wife team Tracy and Daniel Calder. Designed to display images that offer a new perspective on the world, the contest focuses on seven different categories: animals, insects, plants and fungi, intimate landscapes, the man-made world, micro, and an award that honors the youngest photographers. .
Here is a selection of the best photographs:
