UPY 2025

UPY  British Waters Macro - Highly Commended
'Spawning sea urchin'
Trevor Rees

I'd been after a shot of a spawning sea urchin for a while.
I was up in Scotland during summer, shore diving at loch Linnhe and noticed a number of these small green urchins (Psammechinus miliaris) on top of the kelp at high water. A few of them were spawning, with the white smoke like spawn drifting gently away in to the water. At low water the urchins had moved lower down and no spawning was taking place.
I found an active one in a suitable location and after numerous unsuccessful attempts to light the subject it was only when I backlit the subject with a small torch that I got the required drama captured.

Judge's comment: A photo that reveals natural behaviour by both a precisely timed exposure and inventive use of lighting. - Alex Mustard