As deep swells from an offshore hurricane were further empowered by king tides in Southern California over the past several days, residents experienced firsthand the impacts of human-generated climate change. Erosion is an innate process along coastlines, where waves and wind constantly shift the sand and gnaw away at bluffs. Infrastructure projects and residential development over the last several decades have also meant changes to the natural coastline, and beaches are regularly refilled with tons upon tons of sand. Even so, in just a couple of days, some of the region’s beaches virtually disappeared.
This example is just one in an increasing array of low-lying places where our oceans, which continue to warm and rise, demonstrate their impressive authority. That’s where Oceanographic magazine and Blancpain’s annual Ocean Photographer of the Year competition aims to highlight some of the most beloved, impressive, and little-seen aspects of our planet’s most expansive waters.
The annual contest announced its winners of of 2026 this week, awarding top honors to Julien Anton for his black-and-white portrait of a seahorse accompanied by two very tiny juveniles. British photographer Jenny Stock received the Female Fifty Fathoms Award, which recognizes an overall practice that pushes the boundaries of women in ocean photography.
Peruse more images below, plus others from this year’s contest, and see all the winners in the online gallery.
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