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

"Vulnerable": Photography Book's Beautiful Portraits of Indigenous Peoples from Ethiopia to Remote Russia and Myanmar

Disney Princesses Reimagined Years Later As Queens By Daughters And Mothers

Artist Captures Beautiful Photos Of Flowers In Bloomy Neon

American Still Life

If Sailor Moon Was Goth

Striking Drone Photography By Martin Sanchez

Between Clouds And Mists: Beautiful Rural Poland In Dreamy Photographs By Marcin Sobas

Striking Urban And Street Photography By Alfonso León

This Guy Took Engagement Photos With A Burrito

Best Pictures From The Royal Air Force Photographic Competition 2018

This Woman Had A Humorous 'Sexy' Boudoir Photo Shoot In A T-Rex Costume

Dream World: Revisiting the Surreal Urban Landscapes of Japan by Anthony Presley

The Most Awkward Family Christmas Photos Ever

Life Before The Taliban: Photos Show Afghanistan Before It Plunged Into Hell

2013 National Geographic Photo Contest, “Places”, Week 4

Magic Women's Worlds By Russian Photographer Margarita Kareva

Bowie Fans Outside a David Bowie Concert, Including a Young Sid Vicious, at Earls Court, London, 1973

Airline Pilot Took Stunning Photos From His Flight Deck

Dystopian Tokyo at Night in Captivating Photos by Takaaki Ito

Spectacular Winning Images of The Nikon Small World Photomicrography 2022

Abandoned USA: Stunning Urbex Photography By Tessa Alexandra Shea

Spectacular Winning Images From The 2023 Scottish Nature Photography Awards

"Everyday Train Life:" Daily Life Of Japan In Black And White Photographs By Pak Han

Sunny Photos Of Skateboarding In California During The 1970s

There’s A Trend Of Photoshopping Celeb Pics To Meet ‘Modern Beauty Standards’ And Some Say It’s Messed Up

Miracle Black & White Photos Of A Desolate And Deserted London From 1977

The Art Of Living In French Polynesia

Photographer Captures Couples Who Switch Outfits, and the Results Are Hilarious

2014 National Geographic Photo Contest, Week 7, Part 1

Spectacular Winning Photos from the 2025 Shark Photographer of the Year