American underwater photographer Sam Blount has been named the 2026 Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year, a category within the internationally recognised Underwater Photographer of the Year Awards.
The award, sponsored by PADI, celebrates emerging photographers who are beginning to make their mark in underwater imaging. The category highlights both wide-angle and macro photography captured anywhere in the world, specifically recognising photographers who have not yet established themselves as ambassadors or won major international competitions.
Blount secured the top honour with a dramatic image titled Lunging Leopard, taken in the icy waters of Antarctica’s Antarctic Peninsula.
A Close Encounter Beneath the Ice
Blount’s winning photograph captures a leopard seal charging directly toward the camera, its open jaws and streamlined body frozen in a moment that combines both power and precision.
For many underwater photographers, encounters with leopard seals are high on the bucket list, but capturing such a moment requires exceptional timing, composure, and favourable conditions.
Reflecting on the dive, Blount described the encounter as unforgettable.
“For years, the leopard seal topped my Antarctic wish list, a predator I dreamed of encountering face to face,” he said. “This dive was everything I could have hoped for, clear water, good lighting and a playful seal. Leopard seals wield an astonishing array of dominance displays, and this one put them all to use, darting around me with effortless power.”
The result is a striking image that places viewers directly in the path of one of Antarctica’s most formidable marine predators.
Underwater photographer and judge Tobias Friedrich, who also serves as a PADI AmbassaDiver, praised the image’s technical difficulty and impact.
He described it as one of the most impressive close-range leopard seal photographs he has seen, noting that capturing such a moment requires perfect positioning, lighting, and timing in a rapidly unfolding situation.
Runner-Up Captures Cenote Light
Second place in the category went to Malaysian photographer Khaichuin Sim for an image titled Dancing with Light, taken in the mangrove-lined waters of Casa Cenote near Cancun.
The photograph features sunbeams filtering through the canopy above, illuminating the crystal-clear water while a freediving model appears suspended within the shafts of light.
Sim explained that the scene came together spontaneously while his wife snorkelled above him.
As sunlight streamed through the mangroves, he signalled for her to dive into position, creating an image that blends natural light, movement, and composition into a single frame.
Judges praised the photograph for its balance of artistry and technique, highlighting how the light reveals the contours of the diver while maintaining the natural beauty of the environment.
Encouraging the Next Generation of Ocean Storytellers
The Up & Coming category has become an important platform within the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition, offering recognition to photographers who are still building their reputation within the underwater imaging community.
According to PADI, supporting emerging talent is central to encouraging new voices that can help share the ocean’s story through photography.
Dave Murray, Director for PADI EMEA, said the category plays a key role in highlighting the future of underwater storytelling.
He noted that images like Blount’s demonstrate how powerful photography can inspire divers and ocean enthusiasts to see the underwater world from new perspectives while strengthening appreciation for marine environments.
Readers can explore the full selection of winning photographs through the official Underwater Photographer of the Year awards gallery.
Comments
