UPY 2025

UPY 2016 British Waters Wide Angle - Runner Up
'Shocked Shark'
Will Clark

This juvenile Blue shark was the first to arrive at our boat after an hour of chumming. We were alerted to its presence by the bobbing of a small buoy which had fresh mackerel tied to it. I leaned over the side of the boat with my camera housing not quite fully submerged as the skipper tried to coax the shark nearer to the boat. He got the Blue very close to me, and then just at the last moment he whipped the bait out of the water which got a reaction from this little shark.

Judge's comment: Alex Mustard: Just a couple years ago, even a grainy, soft image of a blue shark in British waters would have caused jaws to drop. But as photos have proliferated, standard portraits are now consigned to the “seen it before” folder in competition terms. Will’s perfectly timed portrait rises far above this. It is full of energy and reveals much of the character of this enigmatic shark.