A breathtaking aerial photograph capturing a school of fish evading four young blacktip reef sharks in the shallow waters of the Maldives has taken the top prize in this year’s Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition.

Titled 'The Hunt from Above,' the image was captured by Dr Angela Albi, a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour in Germany, with drone pilot August Paula providing assistance. It also secured the top award in the competition’s behaviour category.

The photograph offers a dramatic window into the delicate balance of predator and prey in the ocean. Set against the backdrop of the Maldives’ white sandy seabed, a school of silverside fish glistens as they move in near-perfect harmony—before suddenly scattering to evade the pursuing sharks. The scene is both visually mesmerising and scientifically significant, shedding light on the intricate survival strategies of marine life.

Dr Albi credited the Maldives’ unique conditions for the image’s success. “Just after sunrise or before sundown, the shallow waters become a clear, see-through surface,” she explained. “These are also the moments when we can best observe interactions between reef sharks and their prey.”

Judges praised the photograph for its striking depiction of natural instincts and movement. Hugh Turvey, a member of the judging panel, remarked on how the view brought the drama of the underwater world vividly to life.

“From the photographers’ bird’s-eye perspective, the raw instincts of nature come alive, as the school of fish move in almost perfect synchrony then split to avoid the sharks,” he said.

The Royal Society Photography Competition celebrates the power of photography to communicate scientific phenomena. This year’s competition featured five categories: astronomy, behaviour, earth science and climatology, ecology and environmental science, and microimaging.

Dr Albi’s photograph stood out not only for its technical brilliance but also for its ability to tell a compelling story about life beneath the surface of the ocean.

The Maldives, renowned for its turquoise waters and vibrant marine biodiversity, provided the perfect setting for this award-winning shot. While the islands are celebrated for their idyllic beaches and coral reefs, images like The Hunt from Above reveal ecological marvels that often go unnoticed by visitors and locals alike.

For Maldivians, this striking image serves as a reminder of the rich yet fragile beauty of our marine environment. It celebrates the wonder of nature while urging viewers to recognise the intricate balance that sustains it. Through her lens, Dr Albi has offered the world not just a picture, but a story—a testament to the enduring power of photography to connect us with the natural world in all its complexity and splendour.