{"id":1796912,"date":"2026-02-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1796912"},"modified":"2026-02-27T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T21:00:00","slug":"a-pair-of-sea-lion-pups-wins-the-2026-underwater-photographer-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1796912","title":{"rendered":"A Pair of Sea Lion Pups Wins the 2026 Underwater Photographer of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-5.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Two sea lions interact in the water\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Matthew Smith (Australia), \u201cRockpool Rookies,\u201d Sealion Island, The Falklands. Overall winner of Underwater Photographer of the Year and winner of the Portrait category. All images courtesy of Underwater Photographer of the Year, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">A Pair of Sea Lion Pups Wins the 2026 Underwater Photographer of the Year<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-02-27T07:55:45-06:00\">February 27, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-nature\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/nature\/\" rel=\"tag\">Nature<\/a><a class=\"category-photography\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/photography\/\" rel=\"tag\">Photography<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F02%2F2026-underwater-photographer-of-the-year%2F&amp;title=A%20Pair%20of%20Sea%20Lion%20Pups%20Wins%20the%202026%20Underwater%20Photographer%20of%20the%20Year\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-pinterest has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F02%2F2026-underwater-photographer-of-the-year%2F&amp;description=A%20Pair%20of%20Sea%20Lion%20Pups%20Wins%20the%202026%20Underwater%20Photographer%20of%20the%20Year&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F02%2Fupy-5-960x640.jpg\" aria-label=\"Pin\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-FDYYCLgR\" data-rl_title data-rl_caption title><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tPin\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"470332\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>From dramatic aquatic encounters to deep caves to fish and amphibians closely guarding their eggs, there\u2019s an entire world below the surface that few of us ever really get to see. That\u2019s where images like those in the annual <a href=\"https:\/\/underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Underwater Photographer of the Year<\/a> (UPY) come in, glimpsing some of the darkest depths and most alluring and fragile ecosystems on the planet.<\/p>\n<p>The top prize of the 2026 competition, which has been running annually since 1965, goes to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mattysmithphoto\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Matthew Smith<\/a> for his capture of two young sea lions in the Falkland Islands. Additional winning images include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/natalie.yarrow.photo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Natalie Yarrow<\/a>\u2019s tableau of hinge-beak shrimp inside a pink barrel sponge, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/khaichuin_sim\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Khaichuin Sim<\/a>\u2019s observation of the controversial annual whale hunt in the Faroe Islands, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/s.a.m.b.l.o.u.n.t\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sam Blount<\/a>\u2019s dramatic encounter with a leopard seal.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-10.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470332\" title=\"\u00a9 Kirsty Andrews (U.K.), \u201cDusk Encounter,\u201d Porthkerris, Cornwall, U.K. Runner-up in the British Waters Wide Angle category\" data-rl_title=\"\u00a9 Kirsty Andrews (U.K.), \u201cDusk Encounter,\u201d Porthkerris, Cornwall, U.K. Runner-up in the British Waters Wide Angle category\" data-rl_caption=\"\u00a9 Kirsty Andrews (U.K.), \u201cDusk Encounter,\u201d Porthkerris, Cornwall, U.K. Runner-up in the British Waters Wide Angle category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-10.jpg\" alt=\"Two octopuses encounter one another underwater\" class=\"wp-image-470336\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Kirsty Andrews (U.K.), \u201cDusk Encounter,\u201d Porthkerris, Cornwall, U.K. Runner-up in the British Waters Wide Angle category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>UPY\u2019s categories range from portraits to coral reefs to macro images, all with an emphasis on the diversity, beauty, and vulnerability of the vast parts of our submerged world. We\u2019ve shared a selection of our favorites here, but you can see the entire winners\u2019 gallery on UPY\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website<\/a>, and follow updates on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/upycontest\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-4.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470332\" title=\"\u00a9 Anton Sorokin (U.S.), \u201cEgg Clutcher,\u201d San Francisco Bay Area, California, U.S. Third place in the Behavior category\" data-rl_title=\"\u00a9 Anton Sorokin (U.S.), \u201cEgg Clutcher,\u201d San Francisco Bay Area, California, U.S. Third place in the Behavior category\" data-rl_caption=\"\u00a9 Anton Sorokin (U.S.), \u201cEgg Clutcher,\u201d San Francisco Bay Area, California, U.S. Third place in the Behavior category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-4.jpg\" alt=\"An amphibian holds onto an underwater reed, holding its eggs in its arms\" class=\"wp-image-470341\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Anton Sorokin (U.S.), \u201cEgg Clutcher,\u201d San Francisco Bay Area, California, U.S. Third place in the Behavior category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-11.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470332\" title=\"\u00a9 Dan Bolt (U.K.), \u201cNew Life,\u201d Manse Point, U.K. Third place in the British Waters Macro category\" data-rl_title=\"\u00a9 Dan Bolt (U.K.), \u201cNew Life,\u201d Manse Point, U.K. Third place in the British Waters Macro category\" data-rl_caption=\"\u00a9 Dan Bolt (U.K.), \u201cNew Life,\u201d Manse Point, U.K. Third place in the British Waters Macro category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1569\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-11.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up photograph of dozens of translucent fish eggs\" class=\"wp-image-470337\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Dan Bolt (U.K.), \u201cNew Life,\u201d Manse Point, U.K. Third place in the British Waters Macro category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-2.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470332\" title=\"\u00a9 Simon Theuma (Australia), \u201cA Time to Dream,\u201d The Gutter, Shellharbour, NSW, Australia. Third place in the Macro category\" data-rl_title=\"\u00a9 Simon Theuma (Australia), \u201cA Time to Dream,\u201d The Gutter, Shellharbour, NSW, Australia. Third place in the Macro category\" data-rl_caption=\"\u00a9 Simon Theuma (Australia), \u201cA Time to Dream,\u201d The Gutter, Shellharbour, NSW, Australia. Third place in the Macro category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-2.jpg\" alt=\"A small white fish swims over colorful coral\" class=\"wp-image-470339\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Simon Theuma (Australia), \u201cA Time to Dream,\u201d The Gutter, Shellharbour, NSW, Australia. Third place in the Macro category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470332\" title=\"\u00a9 Steven Kovacs (U.S.), \u201cScreaming Swallower,\u201d Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. Runner-up in the Portrait category\" data-rl_title=\"\u00a9 Steven Kovacs (U.S.), \u201cScreaming Swallower,\u201d Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. Runner-up in the Portrait category\" data-rl_caption=\"\u00a9 Steven Kovacs (U.S.), \u201cScreaming Swallower,\u201d Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. Runner-up in the Portrait category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1436\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-6.jpg\" alt=\"An underwater photograph of a brightly illuminated blue fish\" class=\"wp-image-470343\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Steven Kovacs (U.S.), \u201cScreaming Swallower,\u201d Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. Runner-up in the Portrait category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-9.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470332\" title=\"\u00a9 Natalie Yarrow (U.K.), \u201cCrowded House,\u201d Bali, Indonesia. Highly commended in the Up &amp; Coming category and winner of Most Promising British Underwater Photographer 2026\" data-rl_title=\"\u00a9 Natalie Yarrow (U.K.), \u201cCrowded House,\u201d Bali, Indonesia. Highly commended in the Up &amp; Coming category and winner of Most Promising British Underwater Photographer 2026\" data-rl_caption=\"\u00a9 Natalie Yarrow (U.K.), \u201cCrowded House,\u201d Bali, Indonesia. Highly commended in the Up &amp; Coming category and winner of Most Promising British Underwater Photographer 2026\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"3000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-9.jpg\" alt=\"Little hinge-beak shrimps wander around inside of a pink coral colony\" class=\"wp-image-470335\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Natalie Yarrow (U.K.), \u201cCrowded House,\u201d Bali, Indonesia. Highly commended in the Up &amp; Coming category and winner of Most Promising British Underwater Photographer 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-3.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470332\" title=\"\u00a9 Kazushige Horiguchi (Japan). \u201cClownfish Hatchout,\u201d Kagoshima Minamisatsuma, Japan. Winner of the Behavior category\" data-rl_title=\"\u00a9 Kazushige Horiguchi (Japan). \u201cClownfish Hatchout,\u201d Kagoshima Minamisatsuma, Japan. Winner of the Behavior category\" data-rl_caption=\"\u00a9 Kazushige Horiguchi (Japan). \u201cClownfish Hatchout,\u201d Kagoshima Minamisatsuma, Japan. Winner of the Behavior category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-3.jpg\" alt=\"A photograph of a fish protecting its eggs\" class=\"wp-image-470340\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Kazushige Horiguchi (Japan). \u201cClownfish Hatchout,\u201d Kagoshima Minamisatsuma, Japan. Winner of the Behavior category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-1.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470332\" title=\"\u00a9 Fabian Becker (Germany), \u201cJAWS,\u201d Bohol, Philippines. Runner-up in the Macro category\" data-rl_title=\"\u00a9 Fabian Becker (Germany), \u201cJAWS,\u201d Bohol, Philippines. Runner-up in the Macro category\" data-rl_caption=\"\u00a9 Fabian Becker (Germany), \u201cJAWS,\u201d Bohol, Philippines. Runner-up in the Macro category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-1.jpg\" alt=\"A dark underwater photograph of the underside of fish, which is illuminated dramatically from above\" class=\"wp-image-470338\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Fabian Becker (Germany), \u201cJAWS,\u201d Bohol, Philippines. Runner-up in the Macro category<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-8.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470332\" title=\"\u00a9 Sam Blount (U.S.), \u201cLunging Leopard,\u201d Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica. Winner of the Up &amp; Coming category and Up &amp; Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2026\" data-rl_title=\"\u00a9 Sam Blount (U.S.), \u201cLunging Leopard,\u201d Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica. Winner of the Up &amp; Coming category and Up &amp; Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2026\" data-rl_caption=\"\u00a9 Sam Blount (U.S.), \u201cLunging Leopard,\u201d Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica. Winner of the Up &amp; Coming category and Up &amp; Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2026\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-8.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up shot of a leopard seal with a wide-open mouth\" class=\"wp-image-470334\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Sam Blount (U.S.), \u201cLunging Leopard,\u201d Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica. Winner of the Up &amp; Coming category and Up &amp; Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470332\" title=\"\u00a9 Renee Capozzola (U.S.), \u201cSunset Patrol,\u201d Fakarava, French Polynesia. Runner-up in the Coral Reefs category\" data-rl_title=\"\u00a9 Renee Capozzola (U.S.), \u201cSunset Patrol,\u201d Fakarava, French Polynesia. Runner-up in the Coral Reefs category\" data-rl_caption=\"\u00a9 Renee Capozzola (U.S.), \u201cSunset Patrol,\u201d Fakarava, French Polynesia. Runner-up in the Coral Reefs category\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/upy-7.jpg\" alt=\"A half-underwater photo at sunset of a shark swimming just below the surface of the water above a coral reef\" class=\"wp-image-470333\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Renee Capozzola (U.S.), \u201cSunset Patrol,\u201d Fakarava, French Polynesia. 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Overall winner of Underwater Photographer of the Year and winner of the Portrait category. 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