Julien Anton Wins Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 for Seahorse Image from French Polynesia
Julien Anton has been awarded Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 for his captivating photograph featuring an adult seahorse accompanied by two juveniles, captured in the shallow waters surrounding Tahiti and Moorea in French Polynesia. This image underscores the scarcity of seahorses in that area, discovered after extensive searches. The competition, organized by Oceanographic and Blancpain, attracted more than 15,000 entries. Will Harrison, the founder, remarked on the judging panel's stunned silence upon viewing Anton's work, which he described as both intimate and urgent. Jenny Stock was honored with the 2026 Female Fifty Fathoms Award, while other category winners included Georgo Rugli (Adventure) and Matty Smith (Fine Art). The complete winners' gallery is available on the Oceanographic website.
Key facts
- Julien Anton won Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 for a seahorse photograph taken in French Polynesia.
- The image shows an adult seahorse with two newly born juveniles near Tahiti and Moorea.
- More than 15,000 images were submitted to the 2026 competition.
- The award is presented by Oceanographic and Blancpain.
- Jenny Stock received the 2026 Female Fifty Fathoms Award.
- Winners were named in Adventure, Conservation Hope, Conservation Impact, Fine Art and Wildlife categories.
- Founder and director Will Harrison said the judging panel fell silent when Anton's image appeared.
- Seahorses are now rare in French Polynesia.
Entities
Artists
- Julien Anton
- Jenny Stock
- Will Harrison
- Georgo Rugli
- Matty Smith
- James Ferrara
- Mitsuna Kawai
- Suliman Alatiqi
- Rui Filipe Cardoso Duarte
- Thomas Pavy
- Ben Thouard
- Rafael Fernandez Caballero
- Rui Duarte
- Gergo Rugli
- Miguel Serrano Ruiz
- Israel Oblea
- Sara Hashemi
Institutions
- Oceanographic
- Blancpain
- Ocean Photographer of the Year
- My Modern Met
- Oceanographic magazine
- Tamataroa Project
- PetaPixel
Locations
- French Polynesia
- Tahiti
- Moorea
- Tamarama Beach
- Sydney
- Australia
- Teahupo'o
- Alimathaa Island
- Maldives
- Florida
- United States
- Blue Heron Bridge
- Osezaki
- Japan
- North Sulawesi
- Indonesia
- Raa Atoll
- Boa Vista
- Cape Verde
- Baja California
- Mexico
- Rangiroa
- Tiputa Pass
- Rangiroa Atoll
- Tonga
- Antarctica
- El Suspiro Beach
- Baja California Sur
- West Coast of North America
- New York City
- France
- United Kingdom