A stunning photograph capturing the rare phenomenon of marine bioluminescence has earned Japanese photographer Hitomi Tsuchiya a finalist position in the prestigious Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 competition. The remarkable image showcases an extraordinary natural light display that occurs when underwater volcanic activity creates luminescent conditions in the ocean waters.
The breathtaking photograph was taken near Mount Iwo, an underwater volcano located off the coast of Japan. Tsuchiya documented a phenomenon that is even rarer than witnessing the northern lights – a spectacle that many people never experience in their entire lifetime. The marine bioluminescence captured in the image occurs when the underwater volcano releases iron-rich chemicals into the surrounding water, creating a natural light show beneath the ocean's surface.
What makes Tsuchiya's photograph particularly extraordinary is the serendipitous appearance of a sea turtle swimming through the luminescent waters. This unexpected addition to the composition elevated the image from an already remarkable documentation of a rare natural phenomenon to a truly exceptional piece of marine photography. The turtle's presence adds both scale and life to the ethereal underwater scene, creating a perfect harmony between marine wildlife and natural geological processes.
The Ocean Photographer of the Year competition, organized by Oceanographic Magazine in partnership with Blancpain, celebrates the world's finest marine photography. Tsuchiya's achievement in reaching the finals demonstrates the exceptional skill required to capture such fleeting and rare underwater phenomena. The competition continues to showcase the beauty and mystery of our oceans while highlighting the technical expertise of marine photographers who brave challenging conditions to document these extraordinary moments beneath the waves.
