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Rintaro Ukon

Rintaro Ukon

Prince of Blue

Captured in Tonga’s open ocean, this image required more than skill: freediving without tanks or lights and mental training to stay calm before whales. All came together in this decisive moment when the calf drew near, allowing me to capture a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

Awards

Photographer of the Year Contest

2025

Nominee

Underwater

Professional

Nominee

Wildlife

Professional

Prince of Blue

Captured in Tonga’s open ocean, this image required more than skill: freediving without tanks or lights and mental training to stay calm before whales. All came together in this decisive moment when the calf drew near, allowing me to capture a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

About Artist

Rintaro Ukon

Biography – Rintaro Ukon Rintaro Ukon is a Japan-based photographer renowned for his striking ability to capture the harmony between humanity and nature. With a career spanning over a decade, Ukon specializes in wedding, landscape, and underwater photography, blending dynamic storytelling with breathtaking visuals. A former five-star hotel photographer in Tokyo, he now travels the world to immortalize love stories in extraordinary locations—from Japan’s iconic landmarks to the deep blue waters of the South Pacific. His signature style merges cinematic composition with emotional authenticity, Awards and Prizes EUROPEAN PHOTO AWARD 2025 CATEGORY WINNER OF THE YEAR WILDLIFE & ARCHITECTURE PRATINUM WINNER WEDDING & UNDERWATER. & FINE ART
 World Photographic Cup 2025 Best of Nation Award (Japan) Finalist – Professional Commercial Category World Photographic Cup 2024 Best of Nation Award (Japan) 8th Place – Wildlife Category (Whale photography, Tonga) APA AWARD 2017 – Japan Advertising Photographers’ Association Awarded for excellence in professional photographic expression SONY Alpha Professional Photographer & Instructor Recognized by SONY Japan for artistic achievement and contribution to the photographic community (2015–2019) Media Features Work featured on national TV programs including NTV's ZIP!, TV Asahi, NHK Masakame TV, and in numerous bridal and lifestyle magazines such as 25ans, Hotel Wedding, Classy Wedding, and Nihon no Kekkonshiki.

Rintaro Ukon

Photographic Areas of Focus

Architecture, Nature, Portrait, Underwater, Wildlife

Location

Japan

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