The Mangrove Photography Awards 2024, hosted by the Mangrove Action Project, is a prestigious competition dedicated to showcasing the beauty and significance of mangrove ecosystems. Celebrating its 10th year, the 2024 awards saw a record-breaking 2,500 entries from 74 nations, each capturing stunning images that highlight the critical role mangroves play in our environment.
This year’s awards emphasize the urgent need to protect these vital ecosystems, which are crucial allies in the fight against climate change. The competition not only celebrates the artistry of photographers but also aims to inspire action towards mangrove conservation through visual storytelling.
The Mangrove Photography Awards 2024 saw an impressive array of entries, with photographers capturing the unique beauty and complex stories of mangrove forests around the world. The winners were chosen by an expert panel of judges, including conservation photographer Dhritiman Mukherjee, wildlife photojournalist Morgan Heim, and photojournalist Christian Ziegler, who were moved by the powerful narratives and stunning visuals presented.
The Mangrove Photography Awards 2024 Overall Winner: Supratim Bhattacharjee
The grand prize for the Mangrove Photography Awards 2024 was awarded to Supratim Bhattacharjee from India for his powerful photograph titled “Sinking Sundarbans.” This evocative image portrays a young girl standing amidst the aftermath of a devastating cyclone that destroyed her family’s tea shop in the Sundarbans. The photograph not only captures the human impact of environmental disasters but also highlights the vulnerability of mangrove ecosystems to climate change.
Mangrove Photography Awards 2024 category winners
The competition features several categories, each focusing on different aspects of mangrove ecosystems. Here are the notable winners from various categories:
Mangroves & People Winner
Mud Bath Ritual by Johannes Panji Christo, Indonesia
Johannes Panji Christo captures a powerful image of a local Balinese man participating in the Mebuug Buugan, a mud bath ritual. The photo, taken in a mangrove forest in Kedonganan village near Denpasar, shows the man covered in mud as part of a purification tradition. Men, women, and children gather mud from the mangroves, covering themselves as they pray for gratitude and earth’s fertility. This ritual, recently revived after a 60-year hiatus, follows the annual Day of Silence Festival, which is dedicated to self-reflection.
Mangroves & Landscape Winner
Nature’s Ribbon, by Ammar Alsayed Ahmed, United Arab Emirates
Ammar Alsayed Ahmed’s winning Mangroves & Landscape photograph, “Nature’s Ribbon,” captures the serene beauty of a winding waterway meandering gracefully through a verdant mangrove gallery. This peaceful scene invites contemplation as the gentle flow of water navigates through the heart of the mangrove. The photograph encapsulates the timeless beauty and serenity of a landscape shaped by the delicate dance of water and mangroves.
Mangroves & Wildlife Winner
Mud-Ring Feeding, by Mark Ian Cook, USA
Mark Ian Cook, a restoration scientist and photographer, captured a bottlenose dolphin in mid-action as it grabs a mullet during the rare mud-ring feeding behavior. This unique fishing technique is employed by bottlenose dolphins in the shallow, mangrove-lined bays of Florida Bay and a few Caribbean locations. In this method, a single dolphin circles a school of mullet, creating a sediment plume to corral the fish. As the fish attempt to jump over the “net” of mud, dolphins snatch them mid-air, showcasing their remarkable intelligence and coordination.
Mangroves & Threats Winner
Mangrove Walls Broken, by Dipayan Bose, India
Dipayan Bose’s powerful photograph, “Mangrove Walls Broken,” captures a villager standing inside his half-submerged home during a flood in the Sundarbans, West Bengal. Due to repeated tropical cyclones and rising sea levels in the Bay of Bengal, river embankments have been breached by high tides, flooding homes and farms, and destroying fisheries with seawater. This image poignantly illustrates the harsh impacts of climate change, as people are forced to migrate and adapt to these devastating conditions. The photograph evokes a deep sense of empathy, capturing the man’s struggle and resilience.
Mangroves & Underwater Winner
Guardians of the Mangroves, by Olivier Clement, Bahamas
Olivier Clement’s award-winning photograph, “Guardians of the Mangroves,” provides a mesmerizing view of the intricate mangrove roots in the Bahamas. The image, praised by judge Christian Zielger for its captivating frame, evokes a sense of calm and peace. It features a turtle gracefully navigating the labyrinthine roots at high tide, seeking refuge for the night. This poignant scene underscores the vital role mangroves play in marine biodiversity, highlighting the urgent need for conservation to protect these invaluable ecosystems for future generations.
Mangroves & Conservation Stories
Symbiosis, by Giacomo d’Orlando, Indonesia
Giacomo d’Orlando’s poignant photograph, “Symbiosis,” highlights life in Demak Regency, Indonesia, a region highly vulnerable to climate change. The coastal community faces severe erosion as mangroves have been replaced by aquaculture ponds, leaving homes increasingly threatened by the encroaching sea. Despite the harsh living conditions, residents are reluctant to move due to their livelihoods being tied to the sea. The community has realized the importance of restoring the ecosystem, with replanting mangroves seen as a vital solution for ensuring their future.
Young Mangrove Photographer of the Year
Mangrove at Night, by Nicholas Alexander Hess, Australia
Nicholas Alexander Hess won the Young Mangrove Photographer of the Year with his captivating in-camera multiple exposure image titled “Mangrove at Night.” Using a macro lens, Nicholas captured the eerie beauty of a young saltwater crocodile’s eye at low tide in the mangroves. By superimposing layers onto the image, he created a detailed and unsettling scene that reflects the mysterious and sometimes ominous atmosphere of mangrove forests at night, where hidden predators may lurk in the dense undergrowth.
The Mangrove Photography Awards 2024: The Importance of Mangrove Conservation
The winning and finalist images of the Mangrove Photography Awards 2024 can be enjoyed on the contest platform. An exhibition for the public to appreciate the extraordinary beauty and ecological importance of mangroves. This exhibition aims to raise awareness of the critical need to conserve mangroves and the diverse life that these ecosystems support.
Mangroves are one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet, with less than half of the world’s original mangrove cover remaining. They play a crucial role in protecting coastlines from storms, supporting biodiversity, and sequestering carbon. The Mangrove Photography Awards serve as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to protect and restore these vital ecosystems.
All the images of the winners, runners-up and Highly Commended winners of the Mangrove Photography Awards 2024 can be found on the competition website: photography.mangroveactionproject.org/winners/winners-2024
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