Underwater wrestling and the "dance" of fish: prize-winning photos of the year announced
The best photographs in the "Underwater Life" category of the Siena International Photo Awards - SIPA 2026 competition have been announced. First place went to Nur Tucker's photograph titled "Ocean Commotion," which depicts seabirds fighting over a fish.
Underwater struggle and the "dance" of fish: winning photos of the year announced
The winning photo depicts northern gannets fighting underwater to catch fish discarded by fishermen. Diving fiercely from the air, the birds contest for food beneath the waves. This shot draws attention to how human fishing activities can affect the behavior of wild animals.
Second place went to Linda Ness's photo titled "Gate of Sharks". The shot was taken near the coast of Transkei, South Africa, during the annual mass sardine run. It depicts a shark feeding amid a dense shoal of fish.
Third place was awarded to Luke Roumande's photo "Mating Dance of the Mandarinfish". The photographer observed the underwater world for two weeks in the Lembeh Strait in December 2025.
The mating ritual of the brightly colored mandarinfish takes place at dusk. Emerging from among the corals in pairs, they briefly rise into the water column before hiding again. After numerous attempts and a long wait, the photographer managed to capture this fleeting moment.
Among the works highly praised by the judges is Romain Barats's photo "Back to Fishing". It depicts a group of penguins swimming through the icy waters near Cape Port Charcot in Antarctica.
Noam Kortler's photo "Heavy Load" was taken near Moalboal in the Philippines. In the frame, a hawksbill sea turtle swims alongside a shoal of millions of sardines. Due to the angle of the shot, the turtle appears to be carrying the entire shoal of fish on its shell.