UPY 2025

UPY  Black & White - Highly Commended
'Synchronized'
Merche Llobera

Last February in Costa Rica, I embarked on daily adventures out to sea, capturing the diverse scenes of nature that unfolded. One day, we stumbled upon a fascinating scene: a baitball of lanternfish with Chilean devil rays hunting them. The image wasn't planned, but it exceeded my dreams of witnessing devil rays in action. In reality, with perfect conditions - clear visibility, sunbeams and synchronized devil ray hunting, it outshone my imagination. Watching their dance was enthralling. Patience was critical in waiting for the right moments and occasionally free-diving to anticipate action. Opting for black and white enhanced the image, delineating the small lanternfish lost in the blue backdrop and accentuating the sun's rays.

Judge's comment: A pair of rays charge a bait ball, enclosed by curtains of sun beams. I love the mixture of shapes in this composition, with the round ball, the straight beams and the graphic outline of rays.
Alex Mustard