What unites a picture of a sleeping whale mother and her calf, a photo of a couple dancing under the rain, and a depiction of a devastating monsoon in Mumbai? Short answer - aqua. Water is the substance that gives life and joy to the world, but also the force that then takes both away. For the ninth year in a row, The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) was given to the best photographers from around the world, and this year's contestants were united by the very same overarching theme - water. See 15 of the aquatic photos across different categories that received the title of the winner this year, starting with the shot that earned the $125,000 grand prize.
1. Grand Prize Winner: "Essence of Life" by Jasmine Carey
