Whale Photographer of the Year Award

Images of whales in feeding frenzy lands North-East photographer top prize

Remarkable photographs capturing a group of humpback whales engaging in a feeding frenzy off the coast of Norway have won a North-East wildlife photographer the Ocean Photographer of the Year award

Taken by marine biologist and photographer Audun Rikardsen, the series of images, entitled "Feeding Frenzy", shows the whales herding and stunning vast shoals of herring. One of the photographs, taken from underwater, shows several gaping mouths as the krill are forced to the surface, while another captures a whale lunging out of the water.

The judges described the winning entry as "a captivating series of images that tells a powerful story about the beauty and power of the natural world." The winning images were selected from more than 4,000 entries from around the world.

Rikardsen, who is based in the Norwegian city of Trondheim, said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to have won this award. I've been photographing whales for many years, and it's always a privilege to be able to share their beauty and power with others."

Rikardsen's winning images will be exhibited at the Natural History Museum in London from September 20th to April 30th, 2023.