UPY 2025

UPY  Portrait - Highly Commended
'Waiting Game'
Prelevic Milos

As I dived in the shallows of this gorgeous lake that used to be a mine, I noticed the dark cave formed by the tangled lake weed. The darkness didn't look welcoming, but I went into it, the dark turned into light, and a whole new world opened up. In it, this gorgeous pike was very well camouflaged under the branches and plants waiting for prey. As I noticed her, I put one strobe above the port because the other strobe wasn't working and began photographing. That one strobe was perfect for emphasizing the pike in its eerie ambiance.

Fortunately, this lake has been very well looked out for by the local divers, and thus, the fish numbers remain healthy.

Judge's comment: One of my favorite images from the competition as I think that a portrait shot can also show the environment of a fish where it's living in. Very good composition and nice, undramatic saturation gives a mystic atmosphere to this great shot. - Tobias Friedrich