UPY 2025

UPY 2019 British Waters Wide Angle - Commended
'Scatter!'
Robert Cuss

Diving with Guillemots at St Abbs has become one of my favourite trips since doing my first in 2008. That first trip was far from successful, but over the years, a group led by Ken Sullivan has worked hard with the skill of local skipper Paul Crowe of Dive St Abbs to learn the behaviour these fascinating and inquisitive little birds. When faced with danger, these poor fliers will descend and 'fly' away underwater. I came across a group of around 30 birds resting on the surface at the end of a gully. I waited for what felt like quite a time until a passing creel fishing boat spooked the birds and en masse they swam straight at me. This resulted in a sequence of 7 shots as the melee ensued with birds swimming as fast as they could to reach the safety of open water. An unforgettable experience.

Judge's comment: Guillemots swim so fast that it is almost impossible to track one underwater with a camera. This means that getting one in the frame is a massive achievement, getting this many in an exploding composition is very special indeed. I particularly like the mix of white and green water in the centre of the frame, that gives the impression of the stormy sea where these birds thrive.
Alex Mustard