Roimata Mitchell, Keepers of the Current (ANIMAL & NATURE 2025)

In the coastal waters of Hawai‘i, the Hawaiian green sea turtle drifts through shafts of light and clouds of suspended reef sand, embodying grace within stillness. This series follows a turtle as it emerges from coral shelter, glides weightlessly through blue shallows, and disappears again into the living reef. Each frame carries both the intimacy of the moment and the resonance of myth: the honu is revered in Hawaiian culture as a navigator, a protector, and a symbol of wisdom and endurance. Suspended in water that feels both earthly and otherworldly, these images invite us to slow down, to breathe, and to remember that life moves in currents - steady, timeless, and interconnected.

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