Benjamin Hams, Among the Sharks (ANIMAL & NATURE 2026)

Blacktip reef sharks are a familiar sight around Fiji’s tropical reefs, but photographing them in their own environment gave me a completely different appreciation for these animals. I spent time underwater watching and photographing them as they moved through the reef, often passing remarkably close before disappearing back into the blue. Rather than portraying sharks as something to fear, I wanted this series to show them simply as they are: graceful, curious predators going about their lives in an ecosystem they play an important role in maintaining. This series captures a small glimpse into their world beneath the waters of Fiji.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.