UPY 2025

UPY  Up & Coming - Highly Commended
'Catfish constellation'
Shane Smith

Juvenile striped eel catfish form tightly-packed shoals and roam around the reef looking like a single super-organism. I wanted to capture this duality - individuals in the context of a greater whole, so wanted the shoal to be neatly packed together and all facing me. To achieve this I needed to predict the direction that the catfish would swim in, then fin down and lie motionless on the sandy bottom on breath-hold, waiting with baited breath to see whether they would approach despite my presence. After many attempts this shoal grew curious and comfortable enough to swim right up to my dome and I was able to get this shot.

Judge's comment: Excellent capture of behaviour and good example of calmness and patience! This image could also have placed in the black and white category. Nice composition! Well done!
Tobias Friedrich