Spectacular Winning Photos of The 2022 Underwater Photographer of the Year

Underwater Photographer Of The Year 2022: Giants of the night. © Rafael Fernandez Caballero/UPY 2022

From backyard frogs to whale sharks, the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2022 competition showcases the best new marine and freshwater pictures from at home and around the world.

This year’s competition received over 4,200 underwater images, submitted by photographers from 71 countries.

This year’s judges were experienced underwater photographers Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich and Dr Alexander Mustard MBE: “Restriction on travel over the last year may have stopped many photographers visiting their favourite waters, but it hasn’t stifled their creativity,” comments judge Mustard. “The Underwater Photographer of the Year contest aims to celebrate underwater photography in all its forms and we are delighted that many of this year’s awarded images come from home countries and some are even taken in swimming pools.”

Rafael Fernandez Caballero has been named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2022 for his image of five whale sharks feeding together in the Maldives.

More: Underwater Photographer of the Year, Instagram

British Underwater Photographer Of The Year 2022: Great white split © Matty Smith/UPY 2022

Macro category winner: Mimicry. © Javier Murcia/UPY 2022

Wrecks category winner: Abandoned ship. © Alex Dawson/UPY 2022

My Backyard Winner 2022: All You Need Is Love © Pekka Tuuri/UPY 2022

Portrait category winner: Rapunzel on Fire. © Thomas Heckmann/UPY 2022

Black and White category winner: Sarah’s Underwater World. © Kerrie Burow/UPY 2022

Compact category winner: Peace. © Enrico Somogyi/UPY 2022

Up and Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2022: Supernova in paradise © Quico Abadal/UPY 2022

British Waters Wide Angle category winner: Gannet Storm. © Henley Spiers/UPY 2022

British Waters Macro category winner: Best Buddies. © Dan Bolt/UPY 2022

British Waters Living Together category winner: A peaceful coexistence. © Lewis Michael Jefferies /UPY 2022

British Waters Compact category winner: Rock pool star. © Martin Stevens/UPY 2022

‘Save Our Seas Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2022: Big appetite. © Thien Nguyen Ngoc/UPY 2022

If you want more awesome content, subscribe to Design You Trust Facebook page.

More Inspiring Stories

Breathtaking Winning Photos from the 2025 Milky Way Photographer of the Year

The Most Creative Photos Of The World Naked Gardening Day 2020, Even In Isolation

2014 National Geographic Photo Contest, Week 2

Photographer Took Amazing Underwater Pictures Of Kids Playing Sport Games

Tiny Dancers Among Us: Jordan Matter Captures Amazing Photos Of Dancing Kids

Stunning Colorized Photos Show Child Laborers In Early 20th Century America

Spectacular Winning Black and White Photos From The Garden Photographer Of The Year

Beluga Whales Blowing Bubbles in Japan

Quiet Nights In The City: Photographer Captures Beautiful Photos Of Everyday Scenes In Large Metropolitan Cities At Night

"I Want to Believe": Fantastic Rare UFO Photographs by Billy Eduard Albert Meier

Beautiful 1980s Portraits Capture The Vibrant Residents Of A Single East Berlin Street

Best Photos From 2021 International Wedding Photographer Of The Year Contest

Holi – A Kolkata Experience: Colorful Photo Series By Shubhayu Dasgupta

Horse Freed after Three Hours Stuck in Mud on Australian Beach

2017 Pirelli Calendar Celebrates the Natural Beauty Of Beloved Actresses

"Requiem For Pianos": Photographer Travels The Globe Taking Eerie Pictures Of Abandoned Pianos

Photographer Captures Stunning Photographs that Evoke Haunting Cinematic Atmosphere

Photographer David Stewart Turns His Lens On The Faceless World Of Paid Content And The Dehumanisation Of Corporate Globalization

The Serendipitous Clouds And Faux Reflections Of Photographer Kanghee Kim

Gorgeous Fashion And Beauty Photography By Ellen Simone

Spectacular Wildlife-Winning Photos From The Monochrome Photography Awards

22 Rare Photos You’ll Never See In Textbooks

Otaku In Osaka

Exploring the Provocative Artistry and Controversy in Tyler Shields' Photography

Stunning Winning Photos Of Nature inFocus Photography Contest 2021

Elmer Alfred Bishop WW2 Prints

Tales from the Planet: Selective Imagery from Earth Photo 2023 Competition

Polish Photographer Creates Amazing Slavic Pagan Themed Photoshoot And Proves Slavs Have Amazing Culture

Snapshots Of Stripteasers From The 1980s At Downtown Los Angeles Venues

Before And After: Lithuanian Photographer Showed How Motherhood Changes Women