UPY 2023

UPY  British Waters Wide Angle - Commended
'Sunrise swans'
Mark Kirkland

At low tide, the southern end of Ayr beach comes alive with seabirds of all different species however the scene is always dominated by the huge group of swans who dwarf all the other birds. They're well accustomed to interacting with humans, so I knew there could be photo opportunities. With weeks of overcast clouds this winter, I made the most of the forecast of a frosty clear morning and arrived just before sunrise. As predicted, the curious swans were quite comfortable as I waded into the water in my drysuit. The river run-off made underwater conditions tricky, however I liked the contrast between the tannins rich water and the clear blue morning sky.

Judge's comment: Swan images, by their very nature, always catch the eye but this is especially appealing with all but one of the swans making a major contribution to the framing, perfect eye contact with the photographic icing provided by the backlit water droplets.
Peter Rowlands