UPY 2025

UPY  Macro - Highly Commended
'Sharpear Enope Squid in a defensive pose'
Andre Johnson

During a blackwater dive, drifting miles offshore Palm Beach, Florida in over 700 ft of water, towards the end of my nearly 2 hour long dive I encountered this rather large Sharpear Enope Squid about 2 inches in size. It came up out of nowhere but immediately paused in front of my lights and camera. Normally with cephalopods I will turn my focus lights to red mode (so as to not disturb them) but this particular one seemed to be attracted to my lights. For only seconds at a time, this species of squid will hold a defensive pose that they are known for when feeling threatened. This particular one however did not pose much as it seemed very comfortable in my presence, even using me and my lights as cover to hunt. I took this photo in the first few minutes of the encounter before it got comfortable with me.

Judge's comment: Blackwater images have to have that extra something which this symmetry provides but a tighter crop might have seen it placed higher. - Peter Rowlands