Above image : A green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is released after being tagged and worked up by the SOSF DRC researchers. St. Joseph Atoll, Seychelles.
To mark the recent International Day of People with Disability, the Australian National Maritime Museum has announced it has made the Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition more accessible by including integrated audio description and additional accessibility resources within the exhibition, designed for blind or partially sighted visitors.
This initiative includes audio description of the 12 winning images (produced by Popcorn Logistics), 8 tactile images and a large print and Braille guide of the exhibition (all created by Vision Australia).
As a photographic exhibition, Ocean Photographer of the Year prioritises sightedness over other senses as a vehicle through which the stories and images can be experienced. This new initiative will widen the scope of people who are able to enjoy this exhibition and experience.
The Ocean Photographer of the Year, presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain, has a simple mission: to shine a light on the wonder and fragility of our blue planet, and to celebrate the photographers giving it a voice. The competition is a cornerstone of the Blancpain Ocean Commitment, which unites all the brand’s efforts to protect the ocean. The program is composed of three interconnected pillars: raising awareness of the ocean’s beauty, supporting scientific research on ecosystems and underwater phenomena, and taking concrete conservation actions, such as helping to create marine protected areas around the world.
The Awards see ocean photographers of all disciplines and experience levels, amateurs and professionals alike, invited to submit their most impactful imagery to be judged by a panel of some of the world’s leading ocean photographers.
There are 10 categories, with the overall winner crowned the Ocean Photographer of the Year.
The categories are:
• Ocean Conservation Photographer the Year (Hope)
• Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Impact)
• Ocean Adventure Photographer of the Year
• Ocean Wildlife Photographer of the Year
• Ocean Fine Art Photographer the Year
• Ocean Portfolio Award
• Young Ocean Photographer of the Year
• Human Connection Award: People and Planet Ocean
• Female Fifty Fathoms Award
Open now until April 2025, this exhibition features spectacular images which highlight the beauty and majesty of the ocean, while also drawing attention to the trauma faced by our marine environments and the importance of ocean conservation.
For further information go to Ocean Photographer of the Year | Australian National Maritime Museum
