UPY 2025

UPY  Macro - Commended
'Sympathy for the devil'
Ludovic Galko-Rundgren

Diving Tulamben with my guide Ajiex, we like to do photo dives on a predefined theme. The theme was slow shutter/mixed lighting : slow shutter is often used for moving fish, we thought we could adapt the technique to macro even supermacro critters, to twist the genre. The idea is to freeze the subject with my snooted Retra flash while lighting a colourful environment with small torchlights, I would swing the camera set at low speed so it gives a blurred effect. Ajiex often brings 3 torchlights with him, we had then plenty of lighting options. This small frogfish on a red sponge was a great subject. I regularly use a slow shutter in between 1/4 and 1/6 with a f/16 aperture matching the torchlight brightness. The sponge came out spectacularly at first try, like burning flames framing that devilish looking Froggie, reminding me immediately of a Rolling Stones anthem.

Judge's comment: I love the sponge on fire effect that the photography has created in this shot, and how it contrasts with the cool ambient light behind the frogfish. The fish itself beautifully frame and packed with detail illuminated by a snooted strobe.
Alex Mustard