Picture of tiny seahorses gathered round their ‘father’ after being launched into the world wins prestigious award. “We spent countless hours searching in difficult conditions, with no guarantee of finding a single seahorse,” says photographer

A strong and extremely detailed black-and-white picture of an grownup seahorse releasing newly born juveniles into the extensive world has received the highest prize of this yr’s Ocean Photographer of the Year competition. The seahorse’s posture, mixed with the picture’s monochrome therapy, provides the {photograph} a deep emotional influence, leaving the jury with the query: “What kind of ocean are we leaving for those who come after us?”

Multi-award-winning photographer & filmmaker Julien Anton captured the scene after numerous hours of looking on a rebreather dive in the shallow seaweed-filled waters of Moorea, French Polynesia. He explains that whereas it’s not recognized whether or not these seahorses are associated, their association evokes a touching farewell – nearly as if the tiny seahorses have gathered round their father after he despatched them out into the world.