UPY 2025

UPY  Up & Coming - Commended
'Crab on a Sea pen'
Marina Deriglazova

Sea pens are stunningly beautiful, and I’ve been hunting for a good shot of one for years. However, the results always seemed to lack something, a detail that would tie the whole thing together.
It was a lovely morning in the Lembeh Strait, and I had just begun my dive when I stumbled upon this magnificent sea pen. I approached without much hope, just to admire its beauty - and found a minuscule, 7mm-wide crab perched on its tip. It was a surprise; sea pens are home to many marine creatures, but they usually hide between branches and inside folds. I scrambled to light the scene.
I wanted to emphasize the texture of the sea pen, so I placed a light behind it while shining another one on the crab to balance things out. I only had time for one shot before my model felt shy and went back inside.

Judge's comment: This image is about a Sea pen and a crab. However without that ‘kiss of light’ it would look flat. The beautiful colours backlighting the crab are superb. Once the viewer has indulged the light, the way in which the Sea pen flows from top to bottom, takes the eye of the viewer towards bottom right and out of the frame.
- Martin Edge