UPY  Black & White - Highly Commended}

UPY  Black & White - Highly Commended
'Playtime'
Shane Gross

I entered the water with the intention of photographing rockfish, but these steller sea lions were impossible to ignore. They were incredibly playful with me and with each other. I wanted to capture that social, playful energy which, meant capturing them while they are together in physical contact (which is clearly important to them) and with a slow shutter speed to subtly show some movement. I converted it to black and white to recall an old family photo, full of nostalgia, like siblings of a different era playing outside.

Judge's comment: The reduction to black and white invites us to explore the shapes, textures and relationships between these mighty sea lions. The eyes just pop out of the picture pulling us in.
Alex Mustard