UPY 2025

UPY  British Waters Wide Angle - Winner
'Jewel Reef'
Arthur Kingdon

The Isles of Scilly offer underwater photographers some of the best opportunities for wide angle photography in the UK so I was determined to make the most of it when I visited for a week in September 2019.
This image was shot at a site whose location is known only to the excellent skipper of Dive Scilly and it proved to be a stunning site with jewel anemones everywhere. This was the first dive of the week and it was my first dive with my new camera and housing. After a shot to check exposure and lighting, I took this one and it proved to be the best of the week! I was helped by some fine modelling by Paula who had opted to leave her camera behind on this dive. Her offer to model was very gratefully accepted.

Judge's comment: This year’s winner combines familiar subject matter to last year’s winner of this category, yet there was no denying this impressive capture from the title. It celebrates British Seas, packed with colour, texture, depth and perfectly posed model. Exemplary.
- Alex Mustard