refocus-dsc7802-resized-1710484736

Dancing Mobulas

Mia Stawinski

Netherlands

refocus-img_1167-1671455098

A spotted eagle ray glides through a seagrass meadow. Monochrome tones blur the boundary between surface and depth, giving the scene an almost terrestrial presence, serving as a reminder that the worlds above and below water are deeply connected.

adf3c2ac-36a3-4d1d-a129-55b9568b3a21

Nominee

A Silent Passing

The mother and calf drifted together in perfect harmony, a yin and yang of unbreakable connection. It’s a powerful reminder of the love and bond that spans across species—a quiet celebration of the profound ties between mother and child in the wild.

refocus-dsc4370-retouched-oct-2024-1731454582

Unbreakable Harmony

A nurse shark glides silently above a bed of seagrass, its shadow casted on the vibrant greens below. Seagrass meadows, often overlooked, are crucial—they provide shelter for marine life, support the food chain, and capture carbon, helping to fight climate change.

refocus-dsc9496-topaz-1731454415

Seagrass Shadow

A group of mobulas appeared out of the blue and started dancing around me in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean in the Maldives. They graciously swam under me and the sun’s light perfectly lit up their wings - allowing me to frame this beautiful performance on camera.

Gold

Amidst this sobering sight of bleached corals, I was captivated by the resilient display of colorful corals. The stunning shades of the corals serve as a testament to the incredible biodiversity and delicate balance of this tropical paradise.

refocus-dsc5983-1710484068

Flowers of the Ocean

refocus-mia_stawinski_dancingwithmobulas-1688707595

Photographer of the Year

refocus-miastawinski-6757-1688707527

Honorable Mention

Perfect Mirror

refocus-miastawinski-0364-1688707327

Motherhood

refocus-mia_stawinski_serene_encounter-1688707143

People's Vote Award

Ocean Blanket

refocus-miastawinski-7802-1677487340

While freediving in Akumal Mexico, a Green Turtle with a Remoras hitchhiking alongside him glided by me. I captured this moment to show how marine animals harmoniously co-exist.

refocus-dsc5547-final-copy-1671202836

The HItchhikers' of the Seas

A cheetah mother leads her two cubs at the break of dawn, on the lookout for their next hunt. This moment reflects a unity amongst this cheetah family. While the mum checked in on another cub behind her, this cub intently stared onto the plains and kept a look out for predators or prey.

refocus-dsc0364-8-1671202275