UPY 2025

UPY 2019 British Waters Wide Angle - Commended
'The Loch Garden'
Mark Kirkland

Living just an hour away from Loch Long I made a last minute decision to go for an evening snorkel when I saw the beautiful summer light developing as I drove home from work. UK split shots are a rarity yet I see them as the pinnacle of connecting non-divers to the underwater world. Split shot ideas been have infiltrating my dreams for months so I got in the water specifically to experiment - not easy with a 4 inch dome port. I eventually settled on an embankment which offered a line dropping from the trees, to the seaweed and into the dark depths of the Loch. Balancing the strobe lighting with the developing sunset created an image which I hope caught the atmosphere of that night. It’s fuelled my determination to turn other split shot ideas into reality.

Judge's comment: This is a subtle image with light and detail that are a delight to explore. The sunset, trees and underwater scene combine to create a wonderful feeling of the place. We particularly like how the composition allows the line of the shore to be continued underwater by the seaweeds.
Alex Mustard