UPY 2025

UPY  British Waters Wide Angle - Highly Commended
'Below the blue line'
Mark Kirkland

Since 1974 the wreck of the SS Kaffir has lay hidden behind the old docks of Ayr harbour. Despite being just a few hundred meters from Ayr beach the location keeps it a secret from the masses who descend every summer to enjoy ice creams and sandcastles, and endure gauntlets of hungry seagulls. This shot was taken on a late summer evening in 2021, where in the quiet bay away from the noise I was joined by a solitary barrel jellyfish. It made the perfect foreground subject to the ever-changing sky. This was just my second encounter with this species and I just couldn’t believe my luck when I came across it just minutes into my snorkel. I calmly followed as it pulsed through the scene in front of me, carefully positioning my 4 inch dome port to capture the jelly, wreck and glorious sky in a single image.

Judge's comment: This image is getting better the longer you look at it. First you think that this is a split shot of a jelly fish, but there are more and more elements getting together like the beautiful sky, the wreck in the background and last but not least the sunrays in the very distance. Excellent image! - Tobias Friedrich