UPY 2025

UPY  Macro - Highly Commended
'Friend of a feather'
James Emery

Whilst on assignment in November 2020 I was blessed with the opportunity to return to Lembeh, Indonesia testing out the Sony a7siii and the new Backscatter colour filter system. I was looking for suitable subjects I could add a splash of colour to whilst at the same time trying to be subtle in my approach. For days I had this vision emphasizing the natural colours of a Sea pen using the soft pink colour filter on the Backscatter MF-1. I expected to shoot a Porcelain Crab or a Shrimp but was surprised by this cute juvenile File Fish taking shelter. I took advantage of the opportunity and used another MF-1 with the optical snoot to expose the File Fish so that it retained its natural colours, whilst leaving the Sea pen in pink.

Judge's comment: Subtle, unusual lighting will always catch our eye especially when both subjects work well together. For once, subtle is the name of the game.
- Peter Rowlands