One of the world’s most celebrated ocean photography exhibitions, Ocean Photographer of the Year [1], presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain, will be installed for one month inside historic World War II Hangar 41, 650 West Tower venue, at Alameda Point, transforming the vast industrial space into an immersive celebration of the beauty, power, and fragility of our blue planet.
[2]Hosted by the West End Arts District in partnership with Bay Photo Lab, the exhibition offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience extraordinary ocean imagery at scale—while discovering the stories of the photographers who dedicate their work to the protection and preservation of the ocean, our planet’s most precious natural resource.
Now in its fifth year, Ocean Photographer of the Year is recognized globally as the world’s leading competition dedicated to ocean photography. Drawing from more than 15,000 submissions from photographers around the world, the exhibition features a curated selection of winning and finalist images across categories including Wildlife, Fine Art, Adventure, Conservation (Hope & Impact), Human Connection, Young Photographer of the Year, and the Ocean Portfolio Award, as well as the prestigious Female Fifty Fathoms Award, which celebrates excellence by women in ocean photography. From intimate macro images to sweeping underwater vistas and dramatic aerial perspectives, each photograph reveals the profound connection between humanity and the ocean—inviting viewers not only to marvel, but to care.
“We’re thrilled to bring Ocean Photographer of the Year to Alameda Point and to invite the community to experience this powerful ode to the ocean in such a unique setting,” said Tara Pilbrow, Executive Director at West End Arts District and lead visionary in bringing this exhibit to the United States for the first time. “By breathing new life into Alameda Point’s military history, we’re also expressing our commitment to the kind of future we want to see—one rooted in creativity, environmental awareness, and shared cultural experiences.”
[3]The exhibit has toured the globe, showcasing annual winning photography among various categories.
“The stories behind these photographs are as compelling as the visuals themselves—they challenge us to see the ocean not just as a place of wonder, but as a world in need of our care,” said Daryl Karp AM, Director and CEO, Australian National Maritime Museum.
In addition to the international exhibition, visitors are invited to explore Bay Perspectives, a dedicated gallery and interactive space that connects global ocean stories to the waters closer to home. The gallery will feature Edge of the Pacific: Bay Perspectives [4], an exhibition of local ocean photography curated by Jan Watten (Gray Loft Gallery) and Nick Winkworth (Bay Area Photographers Collective). These locally-rooted works highlight the San Francisco Bay, California coastline, and the everyday relationships between community and ocean. Sharing the space, the Sailing Science Center presents hands-on marine science exhibits where visitors can engage directly with ocean processes such as tides, wave formation, and the impacts of marine plastics—deepening understanding through play, inquiry, and discovery.
Together, the Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition and the Bay Perspectives gallery aim to bridge art and science, global perspective, and local experience, inspiring stewardship through both emotional connection and knowledge.
[5]Exhibition co-host Bay Photo Lab will host an opening gala event on Friday, April 24. The exhibition will be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with additional evening programs curated by West End Arts District on Thursdays and Fridays throughout the month.
The Ocean Photographer of the Year events program will feature science storytelling from the San Francisco Estuary Institute, ocean-inspired compositions by cellist Mia Pixley, stories from Josie Iselin’s Curious World of Seaweed, a sunset photo cruise hosted by East Bay Photo Lab Collective and San Francisco Bay Ferry, and more.
Alameda exhibition partners are West End Arts District and Bay Photo Lab, supported by Speed Pro East Bay, Project 2030, and RADIUM. Special thanks are due to community sponsors MPB, Brookfield Residential, Catellus, City of Alameda, the Mike Lane Group, Urban Legend Cellars, Ocean Hoptimism, and Almanac Beer Co.
For more information and tickets to the exhibition and events, visit West End Art District’s Ocean Photographer of the Year [1] webpage.