UPY 2025

UPY 2016 Wrecks - Winner
'A Family Affair...'
Thomas Heckmann

I was unable to descend because I had to take care of Maja, my five year old daughter who is unable to snorkel by herself. The only possibility was a shot from the surface under these circumstances. It was too rough for a normal over/under shot. I decided to try a wave & wreck shot with the island of Curacao in the background while swimming together with my daughter. I needed several tries to compose the wreck, the wave and the island in one shot. But at the end I got this real over/under shot with a total other view of the famous wreck.

Judge's comment: Peter Rowlands: Shots like this don't just happen. They are the result of planning peppered with good luck. That it was achieved whilst snorkeling is very impressive and the choice of the curved split level rather than the traditional horizontal creates a very dynamic image which leaves the viewer in no doubt. Winning images must have everything right and then an ace up their sleeve to make them rise above the competition. This, to my mind, is a perfect example.