The Spaniard Rafael Fernandez Caballero has won one of the most prestigious awards in photography: the title of Photographer of the Year from Underwater Photographer of the Year.
“It’s the most important recognition I’ve received in my entire life.” Spanish photographer Rafael Fernandez Caballero has been awarded “Underwater Photographer of the Year” in the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2022 photo competition. His nocturnal shot of five whale sharks – the largest fish in the world – , taken off the Ari Atoll in the Maldives, allowed him to receive the supreme award among 4200 other shots. A total of 71 countries were represented.
“This image blew me away from the first sight and I never get tired of coming back to it. The scale, the light and the large number of subjects…it was by far our winning image,” commented Peter Rowlands, one of the judges. Rafael Fernandez Caballero said he immortalized his snapshot during a night dive, alongside a scientist. “It was already amazing when a whale shark came around our boat,” he said in a statement. But others have landed. I was diving with Gador Muntaner, a shark researcher, who couldn’t believe it as their numbers increased. He counted 11 sharks that night. A once-in-a-lifetime encounter that no one thought possible.
To read :Laurent Ballesta, “In the middle of the night, I find myself in the middle of 700 hungry sharks”
The British competition, which has existed since 1965, allows photographers from all over the world to shine a light on the oceanographic world. The competition also rewarded other photographers according to specific categories. Young talents were also awarded. Their photos are to be discovered in the slideshow.
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