UPY 2025

UPY 2016 British Waters Wide Angle - Highly Commended
'Set the Ray to Jelly'
Nick Blake

Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel is a Marine Conservation Zone and a magnet for marine life. My reason for being there was Lundy’s famous Grey Seals and on my first day, surprisingly they were missing. In their absence, I noticed small Comb Jellies suspended in the water. It was now mid-afternoon and with the sun still strong through the shallow water, I began experimenting in lining up a Comb Jelly in front of the sun, curious as to whether the camera’s dynamic range could hold the scene. Swaying around in the gentle swell for the rest of the dive, I waited for the sun, Comb Jelly and myself to align, fascinated by the iridescent spectacle in the viewfinder. As cloud, rain and Seals returned for the second day, the opportunity was no more and I felt my time with the Comb Jellies and sunlight had been well spent.