Malaysian photographer Ipah Uid Lynn, recipient of Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms Award. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star
THE Female Fifty Fathoms Award was created in 2021 by Oceanographic magazine and Blancpain to celebrate pioneering and boundary-pushing women in ocean photography.
It is one of nine categories for the Ocean Photographer of the Year title.
Unlike the other categories, the recipient of this Fifty Fathoms Award is nominated by her peers and judged by the Ocean Photographer of the Year jury and a Blancpain delegation led by their president and CEO Marc A. Hayek.
The competition is a cornerstone of the Blancpain Ocean Commitment, which unites all the brand’s efforts to protect the ocean.
Its mission is to shine a light on the wonders and fragility of our oceans, and to celebrate the photographers giving it a voice.
The programme is composed of three interconnected pillars: raising awareness of the ocean’s beauty, supporting scientific research on ecosystems and underwater phenomena, and taking concrete conservation actions such as helping to create marine protected areas around the world.
“Photography is a powerful ally in ocean exploration and conservation.
“We applaud the Ocean Photographer of the Year winners not only for their art, but for their help in educating a wider public on the marvels found in the seas,” says Hayek.
