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UPY 2026 Award winners - 'Save Our Seas Foundation' Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2026
'Where Innocence Meets Tradition'
Khaichuin Sim
In the Faroe Islands, the annual pilot whale hunt known as Grindadráp, remains one of the world’s most controversial traditions. Seen by locals as a cultural heritage and source of food, it is condemned globally for its brutality and impact on marine life. In this poignant scene, a young boy sits atop a slain whale amid blood-red waters, a haunting reflection of how tradition, identity, and ethics collide. It captures not just a moment, but a generational question: what should be preserved, and what should change?
Judge's comment: A sad but powerful image which asks more questions than it answers. The message must be that traditions such as these have no place in modern society regardless of the food justification. Photography has the power to bring change.
Peter Rowlands
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