UPY 2024

UPY  Behaviour - Runner Up
'Mouth To Mouth'
JingGong Zhang

This is a photo of two female Zoarchias major eelpouts in a fight. During the breeding season, in order to fight for a suitable spawning nest, not only the males will fight each other, but also the females, and inexplicably, even the males and females will sometimes fight each other. Usually, they can only be found in very few places of southern Japan. I thought long and hard before shooting, how to perfectly present their two biggest characteristics in the shot: their unique spotted pattern inside the mouth and that the mouth that can open up to 180 degrees! My choice was to shoot the fight in its most intense moment, using a snooted strobe to create the black background. I’m very honoured to share this charming moment.

Judge's comment: An image that epitomises the decisive moment and a hormone fuelled dispute is settled. Like with many arguments between people, this one will likely be settled in favour of the individual with the biggest mouth!
Alex Mustard