National maritime charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, has announced the winner of its thirteenth annual photography competition, showcasing images relating to all aspects of the UK and Ireland’s historic relationship with the sea.
This year, the charity’s annual competition received nearly 1,000 quality entries from amateur and professional photographers alike, with the judging panel awarding the overall prize to David Stearne for his entry, ‘Standing on the shoulders of giants – to get the ultimate sea view!’, an incredible shot of a seagull perched on top of the Mediterranean Gull statue at Folkestone Harbour in Kent. The image won the photographer a £1,000 prize voucher for photographic equipment.
In addition to the overall prize, winners were also named in five categories. These included returning favourites – Coastal Views, People and Recreation, Industry, and Ships and Wrecks – as well as a newly introduced category for this year’s competition, Maritime Security.
- Coastal Views: Thomas Rutherford – ‘Monster wave crashing over the Harbour wall’ taken in Seaham Harbour, County Durham
- People and Recreation: Clive Blount – ‘Hard fought’ taken in Cowes, Isle of Wight
- Industry: Ian Douglas – ‘Recovery’ taken in Cromer, Norfolk
- Ships and Wrecks: Gary Beale – ‘The SS Denham’ taken in Leasowe Bay, Wirral
- Maritime Security: John Crisp – ‘Sitting in The Darkness’ taken in Loch Long, Scotland
The winning images were selected by a prestigious panel of photography and maritime experts, which comprised Sophie Batterbury, picture editor of the i, former Sunday Times picture editor, Ray Wells and Chief Executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, Captain Justin Osmond RN.
The Society, which provides financial support to former seafarers and their dependants, encouraged photographers of all abilities to submit pictures that captured the essence of the UK’s enduring connection with the sea, including merchant ships, fishermen, coastline, harbours, ports and wildlife.
Captain Justin Osmond said, “Now in its thirteenth year, the Ultimate Sea View photography competition continues to showcase the nations love for our coastlines and the pride we take in our maritime heritage. Despite the ongoing challenges faced by our seafaring community, their outstanding contribution remains vital to our daily lives. That’s why it remains important that we use the competition as a platform to acknowledge and celebrate the UK and Ireland’s maritime industry and ensure that those working within it have access to essential support.
“We thought that David Stearne’s winning image, ‘Standing on the shoulders of giants – to get the ultimate sea view!’, was both powerful and humorous, showcasing the bold recreational elements of our maritime heritage. Its scale and perspective captured the judges’ attention immediately, standing out as a true ‘Ultimate Sea View’. As always, on behalf of the Society, I would like to say a massive thank you to all of those who entered this year, and we look forward to seeing your images in 2026!”
The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society supports fishermen, merchant mariners and their dependants who are suffering financial hardship, whether due to accident, ill health, unemployment or in retirement after a life spent working at sea. Last year, the Society distributed grants amounting to £1.4 million in over 2,000 cases of need.
To view a full gallery of this year’s winning images, visit: https://shipwreckedmariners.org.uk/.
Overall Winner:
‘Standing on the shoulders of giants – to get the ultimate sea view!’ by David Stearne, is the 2025 Overall Winner in the annual competition run by national charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
Category Winners:
Coastal Views –
- Winner – ‘Monster wave crashing over the Harbour wall’ by Thomas Rutherford, is the 2025 Coastal Views category winner in the annual competition run by national charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
- Runner Up – ‘Comet Neowise at Dungeness Lighthouse’ by Susan Pilcher, is the 2025 Coastal Views category runner up image in the annual competition run by national charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
People and Recreation –
- Winner – ‘Hard fought’ by Clive Blount, is the 2025 People and Recreation category winner in the annual competition run by national charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
- Runner Up – ‘Rowing out’ by Ian Forsyth, is the 2025 People and Recreation category runner up image in the annual competition run by national charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
Industry –
- Winner – ‘Recovery’ by Ian Douglas, is the 2025 Industry category winner in the annual competition run by national charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
- Runner Up – ‘Trinity Lightship from above’ by Dan Brand, is the 2025 Industry category runner up image in the annual competition run by national charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
Ships and Wrecks –
- Winner – ‘The SS Denham’ by Gary Beale, is the 2025 Ships and Wrecks category winner in the annual competition run by national charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
- Runner Up – ‘Together Aground’ by Paul Newman, is the 2025 Ships and Wrecks category runner up image in the annual competition run by national charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
Maritime Security –
- Winner – ‘Sitting in The Darkness’ by John Crisp, is the 2025 Maritime Security category winner in the annual competition run by national charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
- Runner Up – ‘No ordinary commute’ by HMS Mersey, is the 2025 Maritime Security category runner up image in the annual competition run by national charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
Highly Commended:
‘Let go the headrope, fend off! – Galeon Andalucia crewman casts off the ship’s headrope’ by David Stearne, is one of the 2025 Highly Commended images in the annual competition run by national charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
‘Leaving Greenock under a full moon’ by Pete Stevens, is one of the 2025 Highly Commended images in the annual competition run by national charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
If you are able to donate to the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, you can find out how to do so here: https://shipwreckedmariners.org.uk/support-us/donations/.
