UPY 2025

UPY  British Waters Wide Angle - Runner Up
'Bass bass bass'
Kirsty Andrews

I must credit my skipper Danny Daniels in part for this image: as I readied myself to jump into the water next to this offshore lighthouse, he said "Kirsty I'm about to drop you right on top of a big school of bass" - he'd seen the fish on his echo sounder. So thank you Danny! My settings weren't immediately correct - it's difficult to expose these very reflective fish in our temperate often particle-filled waters; but as the school swirled around me for brief moments, I managed to capture this shot. As always in such moments, I was feeling pure joy at being surrounded by fish, immersed in the shoal.

Judge's comment: I never thought I’d see a British picture like this. A wall of fish is a rare sight in Britain and conditions rarely allow such a shot to be taken, even if a photographer with the mastery of the skills was there at the right time. A stunning celebration of the richness of our waters.
Alex Mustard