UPY 2024

UPY  British Waters Compact - Commended
'Angry Strawberry'
Jon Bunker

I’m fortunate enough to live ten minutes away from Hive Beach, on the west Dorset coastline. Little cuttles (Sepiola atlantica) or ‘the angry strawberries’ as I like to call them, are frequently found darting out of the sand in summer months. I find everything about them fantastically characterful: from the bravado of their sometimes quite violent territorial disputes, to the wind-screen wiper-like flick of the arms as they bury themselves in soft sand. I had obviously upset this tiny kraken, as it leapt out of the reef at me in whirl of arms! I managed to get a shot off before it disappeared in a correspondingly small puff of ink.

Judge's comment: The composition for these engagingly colourful subjects is very important - close enough for exquisite detail but back enough to give it space. Very well lit with an inky black background it provides a powerful contrast of colours and a very well timed pose.
Peter Rowlands