UPY 2025

UPY  Marelux Wide Angle - Commended
'Wonderful Walruses'
Celia Kujala

I have travelled to Svalbard three times to photograph walruses, returning with the goal of capturing images of them underwater. On my most recent expedition, we encountered rain, hail, snow, fog and wind. I had only one chance to put my new pole-cam, and everything I had learned the previous year, to the test. Watching the walruses was magical. I loved observing their curiosity and I felt an inexplicable special connection with them. I think split shots are a nice representation of walruses since they are dependent on both the world above water and underwater. In this image I tried to capture their unique look and beauty along with showing their dependence on both worlds.

Judge's comment: These are special subjects and this is a really special image with great initial eye contact which flows to the tusks and then peaks with the perfectly posing walrus in the background. And all with a great diagonal split.
Peter Rowlands