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 Commercial Art of Jeff Satterthwaite Where Seamless Retouching Meets High‑Concept Visual Storytelling

“We Call It A Movement”: Couple Releases Photography Book To Elevate Beauty Standards For Black Kids

German Couple Finds The Filming Locations Of Movies And TV Series In Real Life And Recreates Their Scenes

Solar Orbiter’s Widest High-Res View Of The Sun

Award-Winning Nonprofit Pin-Ups For Vets Is Releasing Its 13th Annual Fundraising Calendar To Raise Money For VA Hospitals

Scottish Photographer Has Been Photographing Ginger People Around The World For 7 Years, Here Are His 15 Best Pics

"Re-Enact Russia": Bringing Past Into The Present

London in 1979 Through Fascinating Photos of George Kindbom

These Portraits Show How People Are Just Like Their Pets

The Spectacular Winning Photos From Underwater Photographer Of The Year 2019

Elegantly Surreal Portraits Of Blue Women From Montreal

Incredibly Detailed Beauty And The Beast-Themed Wedding Photo Shoot Brings To Life The Disney Classic

Spectacular Award-Winning Nature Photos From the Fine Art Photography Awards

"Selfie": Photographer Flora Borsi Photoshops Herself Among A Famous Historical Figures

Photographer Shot Portraits Of Strangers Before And After She Kissed Them

Breathtaking Surreal Self Portraits By Rachel Baran

"Ink Stories": Intoxicating Photos of Remarkable Women and Their Tattoos by Reka Nyari

This Photographer Takes Beautiful Portraits Of People With Acne

15 Wonderfully Satisfying Photographs to Put Your Tired Mind to Rest

Striking Black And White Photographs Of New York City’s ‘Mean Streets’ In The 1970s And 1980s

Instagram Account “Influencers In The Wild” Exposes People Who Are Willing To Do Everything For A Photo

Japanese Harry Potter Flies Around The World's Most Iconic Landmarks On A Broomstick

Beautiful Birds And Mammals Winning Photos from the 2025 GDT Nature Photographer of the Year

"Human Obsessed": The Visual Storytelling of Rafael Avcioglu

"Mersey Paradise": Photographer Tom Wood Spent Decades Photographing The Pubs, Clubs And Bus Rides Of Liverpool – And The People Who Inhabited Them

2014 National Geographic Photo Contest, Week 1

Madagascar's Monster

Amazing Photographs Of Trees Growing Through Classic Cars

Meet Elena Deligioz, Probably The Most Beautiful Female Cosplay Soldier In The World

Vibrant And Moody Urban Photos Of Vancouver By Mado El Khouly