UPY 2025

UPY  Behaviour - Runner Up
'Say me'
Paolo Isgro

This photo was taken in Tonga during a Naia liveaboard. On the second day, in the middle of lunch, the cruise director called us because there was a lot of whale action right around the boat. So in a fraction we climb out of the chair, jump into the wetsuit swallowing the last bite and dive into the water. A couple of young whales really want to play with us and minutes after minute they get closer and closer. And it was during a freediving at 10 m that I saw this whale caming so close to me: it looks at me very intensely and says “Hello” in one breath exhaling so many bubbles.

Judge's comment: We get to look at a lot of whale images in UPY, most of which are very impressive but this shot leapt out on several levels.The composition is immaculate, the colours crisp and clean, the eye contact perfect and the bubbles are not something we normally see. A deserved Runner Up.
- Peter Rowlands