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Finalist Exploration Photographer of the Year

Matty Smith Australia

34°25'12.7"S N 150°54'25.1"E N

A Southern Bobtail Squid puts on a performance. “When I came across this Southern Bobtail Squid it seemed to take interest in its reflection in my camera lens port and began to dance with this curious and colourful display,” says photographer Matty Smith. “‘I’ve only witnessed this behaviour a couple of times in several years of diving at this spot, but on this occasion I managed to capture it before the animal vanished into the night.”

BEHIND THE LENS

2021 EPoY finalist, Matty Smith

Matty Smith United Kingdom (UK)

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ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Taken at night
  • Captured while scuba diving
  • High tide
  • Shot at a depth of just 3m

Matty Smith is an internationally-acclaimed award-winning photographer. He is based in Australia, having emigrated from the UK in 2007. "I have the worlds biggest playground at my feet, the Pacific Ocean," he says. "And I have truly fallen in love with it."

MORE IMAGES BY Matty Smith

Collective Portfolio Award

2021 Australia

Ocean Portfolio Award, runner-up, Matty Smith

ExplorationPhotographer of the Year

2021 Australia

2021 EPoY third place, Matty Smith

The OceanPhotographer of the Year

2021 Papua New Guinea

2021 OPoY third place, Matty Smith

Reconnect. Immerse yourself. Be inspired.

Enjoy the vibrancy, beauty and impact of each year's finalist photography, celebrated in our Ocean Photographer of the Year coffee table book collection.

OPY_edition2021_book
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