Each year, the Ocean Photography Awards invite ocean photographers from all around the globe to share their best shots capturing the beauty and magnificence of under- and above-water ecosystems. “The Ocean Photography Awards are a celebration of our beautiful blue planet, as well as a platform to highlight the many plights it is facing,” the OPA team writes on their website.

The winners of this year’s Ocean Photography Awards have recently been announced, and of course, as always, they do not disappoint. Though, there’s one shot that has stolen particularly many hearts this year and won the Community Choice Award. The photo we’re talking about is one taken by the German photographer Tobias Baumgaertner and it captures two fluffy penguins comforting each other.

More info: Instagram | tobiasvisuals.com | Facebook

The shot that won the Community Choice Award was taken Tobias Baumgaertner in Melbourne, Australia

Image credits: Tobias Baumgaertner

Tobias’ magnificent shot was captured in Melbourne, Australia. “During times like this, the truly lucky ones are those that can be with the person/people they love most,” Tobias writes in the description of the photo posted on Instagram. “These two fairy penguins poised upon a rock overlooking the Melbourne skyline were standing there for hours, flipper in flipper, watching the sparkling lights of the skyline and ocean.”

Image credits: Tobias Baumgaertner

Turns out, both of these little penguins have lost their partners and were often seen comforting each other. “A volunteer approached me and told me that the white one was an elderly lady who had lost her partner and apparently so did the younger male to the left. Since then, they meet regularly, comforting each other and standing together for hours watching the dancing lights of the nearby city,” the photographer continues.

Turns out, both of these penguins had lost their partners and were often seen comforting each other

 

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A post shared by Tobias Baumgaertner (@tobiasvisuals)

“I spent 3 full nights with this penguin colony until I was able to get this picture,” the photographer shares. “Between not being able or allowed to use any lights and the tiny penguins continuously moving, rubbing their flippers on each other’s backs and cleaning one another, it was really hard to get a shot, but I got lucky during one beautiful moment. I hope you enjoy this moment as much as I did.” Tobias, we’re absolutely sure about that.

“I spent 3 full nights with this penguin colony until I was able to get this picture,” the photographer shares

Image credits: Tobias Baumgaertner

“The way that these two lovebirds were caring for one another stood out from the entire colony. While all the other penguins were sleeping or running around, those two seemed to just stand there and enjoy every second they had together, holding each other in their flippers and talking about penguin stuff,” the photographer adds.

Image credits: Tobias Baumgaertner

The Ocean Photography Awards consist of six categories including The Ocean, Conservation, Adventure, Exploration, Young Photographer, Community Choice and Collective Portfolio awards. If you’d like to see all the other winners and finalists of this year’s competition, visit the Ocean Photography Awards’ official webpage.

Take a look at the 1st place winners of the rest of the categories.

The Ocean Photographer of the Year, Nadia Aly

Image credits: Nadia Aly

Conservation Photographer of the Year, Matt Sharp

Image credits: Matt Sharp

Adventure Photographer of the Year, Jason Gulley

Image credits: Jason Gulley

Exploration Photographer of the Year, Ben Cranke

Image credits: Ben Cranke

Young Photographer of the Year, Cruz Erdmann

Image credits: Cruz Erdmann

Collective Portfolio Award, Nadia Aly

Image credits: Nadia Aly

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