Bronze in Nature/Underwater / 2026 / Nature / Underwater

• Prize
  Bronze in Nature/Underwater
• Photographer
  Ryota Ichimura, Japan
• Date of Photograph
  Feb 2026
• Instagram
  @rticmr

Drifting ice from the north arrives in Shiretoko, Japan.

Though a dark central line appears to divide the scene, both sides are illuminated by light. In the upper region defined by the diagonals, the presence of the unseen sun can be felt. Through gaps carved by sunlight, illumination reaches the ocean floor, where the drifting ice and the land quietly reconcile.

Ryota Ichimura is a Japanese PADI Divemaster who primarily photographs the behavior of marine life in Japanese waters. In 2026, one of his photographs was selected for the PADI AWARE certification card design in Japan.