Powerful image of whale rescue scoops prestigious award – "What we did together was bigger than a photograph" says the winner

A diver interacts with a humpback whale underwater, capturing a unique moment in the ocean's vibrant, blue depths.

The Nature Conservancy has revealed the winners of the 2025 Oceania Photo Contest, celebrating nature photography that highlights critical environmental challenges, amplifies conservation action, and reminds us how deeply connected we are to the natural world.

Among the thousands of striking nature images, one story rose above the rest: the rescue of a humpback whale in the Kingdom of Tonga. So, this year's Grand Prize and 1st Place in People & Nature goes to the dramatic and emotional image Tauhi, by Australian self-taught photographer Miesa Grobbelaar.