Gold / 2023 / Nature / Underwater

The Hidden World

  • Prize
    Gold in Nature/Underwater, 1st Place winner in Nature
  • Photographer
    Alexej Sachov, Ukraine
  • Website

The photographs capture the ethereal play of sunlight in unexplored, untouched underwater caves. They reflect the grace of wild fish in their dance with sunrays, illustrating a vibrant, undiscovered world. The stunning beauty of these remote places underscores their vulnerability. Each image serves as a plea for awareness and action - to protect these fragile ecosystems from the reach of human influence. Through my work, I aspire to inspire, to create a powerful connection between viewers and our incredible, yet injured, planet.

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Alexej, a Ukrainian-German devoted diver and photographer, highlights the beauty and human-induced distress of the underwater world through his work. Born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, he holds a diploma in rocket engineering and received photography education from the Kiev Photography School.
Alexej's art bridges photography and painting, employing abstract and fine art styles to underscore the link between terrestrial and aquatic worlds. With his distinctive style, he aspires to elevate underwater photography to powerful contemporary art that advocates for peace and environmental protection.

Awards :
- Overall winner of the Vienna Photography Awards.
Double first-place winner of the Travel Photographer of the Year competition.
- First-place winner of both the Monochrome Awards and Neutral Density Awards.
- Landscape Photographer of the Year as recognized by the Annual Photography Awards.
- Double gold medalist of the Prix de la Photographie (PX3), Tokyo Photography Awards, and Budapest Photography Awards.
- Double recipient of the Jury Top 5 Awards from the International Photography Awards (IPA).
- Longlisted for the Aesthetica Art Prize.
- Commended by the Siena Creative Photography Awards.