UPY 2025

UPY  Wide Angle - Commended
'Dragon Split'
J. Gregory Sherman

While Komodo Dragons are primarily land reptiles, they will venture into the water if something warrants investigation.
For this image we went out in a RIB to take a look at the Dragons and I had brought along my rig “just in case”. One particular Dragon came out and repeatedly got VERY close including trying to climb on and into the RIB on several occasions. I suspect that he has become habituated to humans and was looking for a handout.
In hindsight I’m not sure it was the safest thing I have ever done so I’d have to add the caveat ‘Don’t try this at home!”

Judge's comment: Sometimes the sheer reputation of a creature makes you forget to look photographically. That’s a Komodo dragon! In the water! Once the initial surprise had settled down we saw a perfectly composed, well lit curling split with eye and claw to the fore topped off by a distant spread-wing bird. Powerful subject, powerful shot.
- Peter Rowlands