UPY 2024

UPY 2019 Black & White - Commended
'Black and blue'
Kirsty Andrews

I took this image while snorkelling with blue sharks (Prionace glauca) in Cornwall, UK. Blue sharks have unusually large, expressive eyes compared to many in the shark family, and these, combined with the texture of the electroreceptors on the shark’s nose, suggested to me a black and white conversion and a relatively close-up portrait. The shark’s animated expression and the impression of the surface above combined to create a memorable black and white image.

Judge's comment: Like many of the most memorable black and white images this is a picture is built on a simple composition. But as you explore the frame you are captivated by the details: the characterful eye, the details of the skin and the ripples on the surface.
Alex Mustard