4 - Underwater Photographer of the Year

UPY Macro - Highly Commended
'Magic lionfish'
Sergey Shanin

The Helios 44M lens with an inverted lens and extension rings creates an interesting creative effect. Depending on the rotation of the front or rear lens, various effects can be achieved. Bokeh is obtained with beautiful circles. I was specifically looking for a very small object and met this tiny lionfish. To achieve sharpness, I had to take about 50 frames with manual focus during burst shooting. I took photos with a torch without flashes in aperture priority mode to create this shot.

Judge's comment: A stunningly beautiful and strikingly original macro image that utilises the distinctive look of a vintage lens perfectly. One of the standout photos of UPY 2024.
Alex Mustard

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