UPY 2025

UPY  Black & White - Highly Commended
'Squadron Formation'
Richard Condlyffe

This image was taken at the mouth of the Ulong Channel dive site in Palau. I spent some time watching this shiver of juvenile Grey Reef Sharks swimming together. After minutes of nothing but random movements, the sharks started to swim with more purpose and this straight line quickly formed. It lasted just long enough to get this shot, before disorder took over again! But I had my photo.
The mouth of the channel has little by way of coral or other interesting foreground features, which led me to attempt this silhouette composition, with baron rock in the bottom of the frame and the sharks above. Two additional elements that I feel add to the image are the small detail of one last shark still turning into the formation; also, cropping the image into panoramic dimensions to emphasize the line of sharks.

Judge's comment: The photographer’s back story was very reassuring because this is such a simple image to create that we couldn’t help but wonder. Trust prevailed and the image progressed because it was the most pared back image - black and white, literally. An excellent panorama crop sealed the deal.
Peter Rowlands