Playful sea lion pups “chased, gently nipped, and twisted around the camera, fascinated by their reflections in its curved dome port,” explains winner of prestigious ocean photography award

British underwater photographer Jenny Stock has been crowned the Ocean Photographer of the Year Female Fifty Fathoms 2026 winner, celebrated for her extraordinary photographs of playful sea lion pups. The winning shot captured the two pups engaging in an interactive display, chasing, gently nipping, and twisting around her camera.

Their fascination with their reflections in the dome port of the camera was evident, as Stock described, "The playful animals chased, gently nipped, and twisted around the camera, fascinated by their reflections in its curved dome port."

Stock, who was diving in Western Australia’s Jurien Bay Marine Park, noted that the pups are highly sociable and intelligent creatures. The Jurien Bay Marine Park is the sole sea lion breeding zone along Australia’s western coastline, hosting approximately 20% of the region’s 800 sea lions. These interactions revealed the pups' curious nature, a characteristic Stock described in her winning portfolio.

Other images in Stock’s commended portfolio included a green turtle gracefully moving above the coral floor in French Polynesian Pacific waters. To ensure the intense brightness was captured effectively, Stock utilized a fast shutter speed and a small aperture.

The Female Fifty Fathoms Award, a category of the Ocean Photographer of the Year Awards, specifically honors the best ocean photography created by women. Unlike other categories, nominees for this award are selected by their peers and judged by the esteemed Ocean Photographer of the Year jury. For Stock, being nominated by fellow ocean photographers carries immense significance, as it validates her work and inspires other women to explore the underwater world through photography.

Jenny Stock remarked, "To be nominated by fellow ocean photographers means more to me than I can easily express. I hope this recognition inspires more women to pick up a camera and discover the magic that's beneath the surface."