UPY 2025

UPY  British Waters Macro - Winner
'Egg eaters'
Kirsty Andrews

I have long admired others’ pictures of nudibranchs feeding on the egg coils of other nudibranch species across the world. I’d also seen this nudibranch species, Favorinus branchialis, before, and I knew that it fed in this way, but never seen it in action until recently. I was therefore thrilled to find three large specimens feeding on a big coil of eggs in Shetland, Scotland. The eggs were several inches across, in a wide spiral, so the challenge was to isolate an appealing composition of eggs and nudibranchs.

Judge's comment: What a nice and clean composition of these nudibranchs. From the beginning this image caught my intention and I knew it was more than likely to win this category. It's not only a macro shot, but also a portrait and has additionally a element of behaviour. What more can you wish for? Very well done and congratulations!
Tobias Friedrich