BY OLI GOELDNER
Newcastle-based photographer Matty Smith has won the global 2026 Ocean Photographer of the Year Fine Art category with his beautiful snaps of marine wildlife.
The winning pic is a black-and-white portrait of a nurse shark, flanked by remoras in perfect formation.
Mr Smith received the accolade from the Australian National Maritime Museum, with his images to be on display from November 19.
There were 10 Australian or Australian-based photographers nominated as finalists in the competition, with more than 15,000 images entered from around the world.
Mr Smith said he knew the nurse shark photograph would be a winner.
"The planets aligned at the end of a late afternoon dive in the Maldives," he recalled.
"Upon ascending from the depths, I crossed paths with this beautiful tawny nurse shark bathed in ethereal evening light.
"I instantly knew it would make a great black and white shot."
In addition to his category winning image, Mr Smith also had a second picture which received highly commended in the Wildlife category.
The image shows Southern elephant seal pups exploring shallow rock pools on Sea Lion Island in the Falkland Islands.
