Photography for the Ocean – in pictures

Founded by Paul Nicklen, Cristina Mittermeier and Chase Teron, 100 for the Ocean unites 100 world-class photographers selected for their talents and contributions to conservation. Until 31 May 2023, photographs are on sale with profits going to under-funded and under-recognised ocean-focused NGOs voted for by photographers. The top-voted NGOs so far include: Whale Guardians, Coast First Nations, and Por el Mar

“The UN is telling us that in order to fulfil the promise of protecting the ocean under Sustainable Development Goal 14, Life Underwater, we need about $170 billion. We hope to shine a spotlight on the ocean and why we need to protect the largest ecosystem on our planet, the one ecosystem that allows life on earth to exist.” Cristina Mittermeier

Main image: Aleutian Islands, 2013. Photograph: Chris Burkard/100 for the Ocean

  • Playtime | Jurien Bay, Australia, 2019

    I had always believed that the Australian sea lion was the ocean version of a playful puppy dog. Two relatively young pups who were still getting used to interacting with humans grew to trust my presence. I decided to throw some kelp away from me in the direction of one of the sea lions. As the kelp hit the surface of the water the playful sea lion retrieved it, and to my astonishment carried it through the water back to me. Not tug of war – this puppy’s playtime favourite is fetch! This is the moment I learned sea lion pups are capable of playing fetch
    Sea lion underwater carrying kelp

  • A Mother’s Love | Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada, 2020

    Being able to spend time with this amazing family as she helped her cubs get ready for their long journey to the ice was incredible. The love and care she had for them is shown throughout the images captured
    A polar bear with two cubs

  • Icy Flight | Ross Sea, Antarctica, 2011

    Like rockets, emperor penguins propel themselves out of Antarctica’s icy waters in leaps that seem to violate the laws of physics. Far from being the comedic, waddling caricatures we often see depicted in pop culture and children’s books, these remarkable birds can dive over a thousand feet deep and stay out at sea for weeks at a time. They are also important indicators of the health of Antarctic ecosystems. Protecting these amazing creatures and their habitats is crucial to maintaining the delicate balance of our planet’s ecosystems
    A penguin leaping out of the water

  • Freedom | Bamfield, British Columbia, Canada, 2020

    While fishing off Vancouver Island, after spotting some large black fins in the distance, we pulled up our lines and motored across. Two orca had split from the main group and surfaced 200 metres from our bow. J38 broke through the water at the crest of a large swell as we bottomed out at the base of another, allowing me to capture this image from such a low angle. This whale is experiencing a moment of true freedom, a whale whose population is diminishing, who is struggling to find food and communicate with its family in the congested Salish Sea
    An orca poking its head out of the water

  • Edward’s fig parrot (Psittaculirostris edwardsii) at Loro Parque Fundacion | North-east New Guinea

    This small parrot species is found in north-east New Guinea up to the Huon Peninsula. It is mostly found in forests but also occasionally in cleared lands. Males are easily recognised with their brightly coloured heads and red breasts
    A close-up of a parrot's eye

  • Sea Pup | Mexico Sea Lion Hunt, 2021

    A graceful arch, captured in motion as a sea lion hunts its prey. With a skilled eye and determined hunt, the sea lion targets a dwindling bait ball in search of its next meal.
    A sea lion underwater swimming around a shoal of fish

  • Emerald Dreams | Katmai National Park, Alaska, US, 2019

    A young bear swims across a river mouth during high tide, following its sibling to find food across the way. Against the warm rich brown fur, the green river around was illuminated like liquid emeralds, constantly in motion, bringing about greens I never knew the names of, greens that felt endless in vibrancy and state of motion
    Close-up of bear swimming in river

  • Strong Together | Begin Ontario, 2022

    The blizzard blocks my view. At the intersection of a snow road and a snowmobile trail, I notice a black spot in the distance. When I get to the trail, I realise that it is a lynx! I lay down on the ground and wait. Suddenly, a small lynx comes out of the wood and joins him, then another and another and another! To finish the parade, another adult sits with them. I have a total of six lynxes in front of me. They see me, but don’t move, I wait, and that’s when the small clan starts to walk in my direction. The lynxes float on this soft snow
    A group of lynxes walking in the snow towards the camera

  • House of Bears | Kolyuchin Island, Russia, 2020

    Kolyuchin is known for the polar weather station that operated in Soviet times. Though the station was closed in 1992, the abandoned village still stands on the island. The stormy wind, rain and neglected buildings on the rocky shores all made everything appear surreal. Bears are very curious by nature so they walked around the houses, checked every door, window, nook and cranny. There were about 20 animals in sight at the same time, mostly males. The females kept to the side with their cubs, closer to the shores of the island
    An abandoned house with one polar bear looking out of the window and another standing on the porch

  • Medusa | Iceland, 2018

    Photographed from a small plane over the Tungnaá river in the highlands of Icelands, during my first flight to capture the abstract glacial river systems. I had never seen something so abstract created by Mother Nature. The water was so chaotic yet organised. With water tendrils snaking all around, up and over itself, the water seemed to move in every direction and the same direction all at once. I intend to keep returning to document this from the air to be mesmerised and concerned, just like that first flight when the wild and snaking river reminded me of Medusa’s hair
    Tendril-like patterns created in water

  • Distance

    Coming off one of the biggest projects of my career, I had lost direction and motivation to pick up the camera and create. This image helped bring my focus back. I spent the afternoon in large, windy conditions on a remote stretch of coastline. I don’t usually have moments that make me look at the image in the water. As this particular wave broke, the incredible blue colour was displayed in front of me. This is the moment that brought me back. The ocean rekindled my desire to capture these heavy ocean moments on some of the most remote stretches of coastline in the world
    The curve of a wave breaking

  • Curiosity | Dominica, 2023

    Sperm whales can be extremely curious. This young one swam away from its group to inspect me closer. Using its clicks, it buzzed me, generating an image of me with its clicks. Being within inches of a huge marine mammal is extremely humbling. And rather than me being the most curious being, this sperm whale had the ability to learn more about me than I could of it
    Three sperm whales underwater

  • Sea Bear | High Arctic, 2019

    As Arctic temperatures rise, the polar bears in Svalbard are facing a new reality: a world without multi-year pack ice. With the ice melting earlier each year, their hunting grounds are shrinking, leaving them struggling to find food and survive. By reducing our carbon emissions through lifestyle changes, using renewable energy sources, and supporting policies that address climate change, we can help slow the rate of global warming and preserve the polar bear’s habitat and preserve the planet for all living things
    A polar bear lying down on the ice with its head stretched up in the air

  • Green Sea Turtle Surrounded by Glassfish | Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, 2018

    We were out on a WhaleShark Tour doing a back of reef snorkel. My work colleague called out that she had found a turtle resting behind some glass fish under a ledge. The ledge was around 8-10 meters down so I went down and lined up my camera and as I did the glass fish framed the Turtle perfectly. The turtle looked at the camera and I took a few photos before having to come back to the surface for air
    A turtle looking at the camera, surrounded by tiny fish

  • Aleutian Juice | Aleutian Islands, 2013

    This was my first expedition to the Aleutians, hunting for surf among the dramatic volcanoes of the north. Finding these moments of beauty and grandeur marked a defining moment in my career as a culmination of months of planning, a good weather window, dedication to cold water surfing, and finding the perfect swell
    Waves breaking with a snow-covered mountain in the background
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