The winners of the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 have been unveiled, and Spanish shooter Javier Aznar González de Rueda has clinched the top prize for an impressive closeup of a mother stink bug caring for her brood. González de Rueda’s image was selected by the German Society for Nature Photography (GDT)’s judging panel from among more than 18,000 entries.
But, of course, it’s the underwater category winners and finalists that we’re most interested to see, and the amazing images in “Underwater World” do not disappoint. The winner of the category is Catherine Holmes with her brilliant shot of mobula rays against the “night sky” in Baja, Mexico, which appeared in her recent Photographer of the Week feature on DPG. The runner-up is another stunning portrait against a black background, this time of a blanket octopus, captured by Magnus Lundgren in Balayan Bay, Luzon, Philippines. Check out all the other superb finalists in the category below.
Keep in mind that the DPG Masters Underwater Imaging Competition 2023 is currently accepting entries (until December 1st), and there are lots of awesome trip and gear prizes up for grabs. Enter your best work today!
Winner, Nighttime Squadron by Catherine Holmes
Runner-up, Flamenco Pose by Magnus Lundgren
Finalist, Rays at Sunset by Mike Korostelev
Finalist, Mayan Cichlids by Franco Banfi
Finalist, Dragonfish by Solvin Zankl
Finalist, From Below by Boldizsar Szúcs
Finalist, Hvaldimir by Audun Rikardsen
Finalist, Pike Lying in Wait by Pekka Tuuri
Finalist, Frogfish on a Throne, by Gabriel Barathieu
Finalist, Octopus Tango by Francisco Javier Murcia Requena
