We are stoked to unveil the official hero image for the 2027 Ocean Film Festival World Tour, captured by award-winning underwater photographer Jake Wilton.
With a deep connection to Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef, Jake has developed an extraordinary ability to capture the scale, beauty and personality of the ocean’s wildlife. His striking underwater imagery celebrates the marine world while offering viewers a glimpse into encounters few are fortunate enough to experience.
Jake’s work continues to earn international recognition. Most recently, he took out first place in the Australian category of the 2026 Underwater Awards Australasia photography competition- further cementing his place among Australia’s leading underwater photographers.
The 2027 hero image captures a magnificent whale shark gliding through the clear, shallow waters of Ningaloo Reef, accompanied by a lone swimmer. Viewed from above, the photograph beautifully conveys the immense scale of the whale shark and the quiet wonder of sharing the water with one of the ocean’s gentle giants.
As Jake explains:
“Nothing beats a whale shark in the lagoon of the Ningaloo Reef. Very rarely are we treated to a whale shark on the inner reef like this encounter a couple of years back in Coral Bay.”
Rare, breathtaking and unmistakably Australian, this remarkable photograph perfectly captures the sense of awe, adventure and connection at the heart of the Ocean Film Festival. We cannot wait for it to represent the 2027 tour.
