Life at Sea 2023
Life at Sea 2023 was the fourth seafarers’ photography competition organised by the ITF Seafarers Trust and had an incredible response of almost 4000 submitted entries. We were, again, enormously grateful to all the seafarers who embraced the opportunity to share their experiences with us and help raise the profile of the men and women powering the global movement of goods and people by sea.
2023 saw travelling exhibitions touring multiple locations in Germany and Brazil (with the Deutsche Seemannsmission) and in the Philippines (with the AMOSUP trade union), as well as exhibitions at the World Ocean Summit (Lisbon, Portugal) and the USS Constitution Museum (Boston, USA).
The winning photos from 2023 all demand a second glance to see the true reality of the image. From John Robert M. Maraño’s photo ’12 Degrees’ – at first glance a clever trick until you notice the pitch of the ship showing on the inclinometer in the background, to Mikael Cesar Bureros’ photo ‘Converging Forces’ showing a container ship almost toy-like in comparison to the towering sandstorm about to engulf it, to Reza Sahedifar’s ‘Serenity’ which shows fishers casting their lines from the smallest of fishing boats and, tucked into the centre of the boat, a man making the time for his prayers whilst his colleagues continue to fish.
The Winners
First place: John Robert M. Maraño
’12 Degrees’
"Michael Jackson? No. This is me trying his moves while balancing myself as the ship’s rolling reaches 12 degrees. This prevents me from getting dizzy with the ship’s heavy rolling. This was taken during our drifting in Fremantle, Australia." - John Robert M Maraño
"In the realm of the seafarer, the unpredictable forces of nature are both familiar and formidable. When a sandstorm sweeps across the land, a mesmerizing battle between land and sea unfolds. The swirling maelstrom of sand mirrors the ceaseless waves that test the prowess of seafarers. Like the turbulent ocean, the sandstorm brings forth a symphony of chaos and challenge, where wind and sand merge in a dance of elemental power. Yet amidst this tempestuous encounter, the seafarer's spirit remains unyielding. Drawing upon their seafaring instincts, they navigate through the chaos, relying on their honed skills and resilient resolve. In this captivating clash of land and sea, the seafarer's indomitable spirit shines through, a testament to their unparalleled courage and unwavering determination to conquer nature's most formidable storms." - Mikael Cesar Bureros
"Hello I took this photo from the deck of an oil tanker. I found the fishing boat, which was about 15 meters below us, very interesting. They were almost clinging to our anchored ship so that they could catch more fish and the most interesting thing in my opinion is the fisherman who prayed in the middle of the ocean with a certain simplicity. Thank God I had my camera in my hand and I was able to take their picture at that moment" - Reza Sajedifar
The judges recognised three further photographs as highly commended: ‘Woman, you belong! [Babae, kabilang ka!]’ by Juven Tupas, ‘Rescue at Sea’ by Elijah Jose C. Barrios, and ‘Tank Inspection’ by Randolph P. de Jesus.
"In a world where you are observed by many and your abilities are compared to that of men’s, it is your own identity that drives your valuable contribution to the industry. As you accelerate in numbers, it also proves that the maritime world is not only for men but for everyone. You might feel lonely sometimes but remember that you are not alone. You're a woman, and you belong!" - Juven Tupas
"The sea is an immensity of inspiring stories. 09 February 2023—Our ship was en route to New Orleans, USA, when our second officer suddenly noticed a makeshift boat seemingly in distress. At that time, I was watching a movie in my cabin. Our captain called me in a rushed voice, instructing me to bring my camera and document what would be a rescue operation. When I got there, all hands were already on deck. We had doubts at the beginning. We initially thought they were pirates, but when we zoomed in the photos, the tears and exhaustion in their faces were enough to prove they were not. The rescue operation was challenging for all of us. The sea swells were not kind, and the current wasn't easing us either. It took us five attempts before we were able to rescue the distressed persons successfully. In this photo, you will see our final attempt at reaching them through a lifeline. It was a catch for life." - Elijah Jose C. Barrios
"Tank inspection is indeed a tiring job." - Randolph P. de Jesus
The Judges
San Ko Oo, seafarer and winner of Life At Sea 2022,
Anne Reitsma, photographer,
Patrice Terraz, photographer,
Paddy Rodgers, Director (Chief Executive) of Royal Museums Greenwich