UPY 2025

UPY  British Waters Macro - Third
'Moonlight wonderland'
Sandra Stalker

I had this shot in mind when I started the dive at Kimmeridge back in the summer. I had on my home made part vintage lens and there had been plenty of stalked jellyfish around the previous week. However, as with all UK diving nothing is quite guaranteed and I didn't find a single stalky until near the end of the dive. It was also in an awkward position and the surge was starting to build meaning I had many more misses than hits with managing to light the stalked jellyfish with a tiny snoot beam on a strobe and focus whilst strobing the background blue. I chose the blue as this particular stalky was a pinky brown colour and very camouflaged against the pink weed it was on plus it gives the image another worldly effect. I like to treat my images like mini stage sets.

Judge's comment: Delicate and captivating, this artistic image . It could be a golden flower embroidered onto a blue velvet cushion. A stunning photography and a real favourite of mine.
Alex Mustard