A Newcastle photographer's black-and-white portrait of a tawny nurse shark has won the 2026 Ocean Photographer of the Year Fine Art category.
Matty Smith was one of 10 Australian or Australian-based finalists in the competition that this year attracted more than 15,000 images from the world's leading ocean photographers.
The caption for his award-winning image reads: "A tawny nurse shark glides through the warm waters of the Maldives as the setting sun filters through the ocean surface. Beneath it, remoras travel alongside their host, illustrating a common partnership in which the smaller fish gain transport, protection and feeding opportunities. Often perceived as fearsome predators, nurse sharks are slow-moving, bottom-dwelling animals that play an important role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. The shark's direct gaze creates a sense of connection with the viewer."
"The planets aligned at the end of a late afternoon dive in the Maldives," Smith told the Newcastle Herald.
"Upon ascending from the depths, I crossed paths with this beautiful tawny nurse shark bathed in ethereal evening light. I instantly knew it would make a great black-and-white shot."
In addition to his category-winning image of the shark, a second image by Smith was "highly commended" and a finalist in the Wildlife category. It shows southern elephant seal pups exploring shallow rock pools on Sea Lion Island in the Falkland Islands, testing their first movements in the water after being weaned by their mothers.
Smith is an award-winning ocean and underwater photographer whose images reveal the beauty, mystery and fragility of the natural world. Originally from the UK, he moved to Australia in 2007 and is now based in Newcastle.
Describing himself as a "water baby", he recalls a family holiday to Spain where he snorkelled for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea.
"I swam out into deep blue water and I remember seeing the shards of light dancing around, a few silvery fish cruising around, and being absolutely mesmerised by it all. That was the start of it all, for me."
Smith is passionate about inspiring ocean conservation through powerful visual storytelling, and with fellow photographer and Wild Planet Expeditions founder Scott Portelli leads immersive photography expeditions to far-flung environments.
"The photos I shoot for competitions are of very specific things. A lot of planning goes into it, like with the elephant seal pup; I flew halfway around the world and planned that shot meticulously," Smith said.
"The tawny nurse shark shot is unusual because I was on a job - I was employed to go to the Maldives to shoot for a third party - and shooting for a competition never entered my mind.
"I was ascending from a dive and this tawny nurse shark was cruising by, maybe five metres deep, it was late in the afternoon so there was a nice evening light behind it.
"It was one of those rare moments as a photographer where - and I hate to use the word luck because with photography the harder you work the luckier you get - the light was nice, it was in a good spot, I fired a couple of frames as it passed by in front of me, and then immediately looked at the frame and thought it was a serendipitous moment where it all came together.
"I knew it would make a black-and-white picture. The sandy texture of the skin popped out nicely."
Recalling the hard work and planning that went into capturing the elephant seal pup image, Smith said he was frustrated by the increased popularity of AI (artificial intelligence) and photoshopping.
"AI has taken the wonder out of things. You see something and you think how amazing is that, and then you assume it's probably AI," he said.
"I took a photo, an over-under split shot, of a great white shark a few years ago that had never been done before. It took me three years to get that photograph, it won some awards, was published in Australian Geographic and shared by the BBC in their socials, and there was comment after comment accusing it of being AI.
"It's so frustrating. Soul-destroying, even, at times."
French photographer Julien Anton was named Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 for his portrait of a male seahorse and two tiny juveniles alongside him. His photograph was first named winner of the Ocean Wildlife category before being elevated to the overall prize.
For the second consecutive year, two Australians were category winners in the annual competition. Sydney photographer Gergo Rugli won the Adventure category for an image of dolphins cresting a wave alongside surfers at Tamarama Beach in Sydney.
All the finalists' images will be on display at the Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum that opens on November 19.
"We are proud to be partnering once again with Oceanographic Magazine to bring to life the breathtaking Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition," museum director and chief executive officer Daryl Karp said.
"This exhibition serves as a reminder of not only the beauty that lies beneath the ocean's surface, but also the world below that is in urgent need of our care and protection."
The Ocean Photographer of the Year competition is presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain.
