UPY 2025

UPY  Portrait - Highly Commended
'Eye of the beholder'
Bryant Turffs

I made this image on a trip to a Florida spring targeting manatees. Despite not being the original focus of trip, this common snapping turtle, captured my attention. She didn’t seem to mind my presence and went about her business foraging, resting, and breathing. I had hoped to capture a split shot, but she avoided me when taking breaths and so I switched my focus to capturing topside interest through snells window. I love the way this frame captured the environment, but the turtle’s personality steals the show. Beauty is as they say…

Judge's comment: Such an incredibly nice portrait shot of a rare animal to see in an underwater competition. Even though the light of the sky is cloudy the photographer managed to balance it very well and also got the animal looking straight into the camera. We loved the "snells window" where you can also see the topside where this image has been taken. Excellent!
Tobias Friedrich