UPY 2025

UPY  Wide Angle - Third
'Against All Odds'
Hannah Le Leu

At Heron Island, Australia, a Green Sea Turtle hatchling cautiously surfaces for air to a sky full of hungry birds. Against all odds, this hatchling must battle through the conditions of a raging storm whilst evading a myriad of predators. Not only has the tropical storm brought out thousands of circling birds, but there are also patrolling sharks and large schools of fish on the hunt for baby turtles. Only 1 in 1000 of these hatchlings will survive; will this one survive against all odds?

Judge's comment: One of my very favorite images of the competition. Very nice composition and excellent technique to capture this magnificent moment. For me, the story of this image, with the birds in the sky, really drags me into it and makes it better every time I see it. It's rare that underwater images tell a story this dramatic. Well done. - Tobias Freidrich