UPY 2025

UPY  British Waters Compact - Runner Up
'Fluorescent Fireworks'
James Lynott

I don’t think I will ever tire of viewing and capturing images of fireworks anemones fluorescing under blue light, there is so much variation in the fluorescence patterns between individuals as well as the shapes created by the position of the tentacles in the water. This shot was taken in Loch Long during a night dive in October 2021 and it is one of my favourites so far. I was quite lucky with this one that the main tentacles just curled up slightly while leaving the brightly fluorescing inner tentacles in full view. I used a FireDiveGear excitation filter over my strobe to provide the blue light together with the FireDiveGear barrier filter in front of my camera lens to block excess reflected blue light.

Judge's comment: An eye-catching symmetrical composition and a fluorescence lighting setup reveal the detail of a deep-water fireworks anemone, in fabulous fluorescent colours. - Alex Mustard