UPY 2024

UPY  Marelux Wide Angle - Runner Up
'Wild and Free'
Remuna Beca

A pod of Atlantic Spotted Dolphins swimming wild and free in the Bahamas. Interacting with these highly intelligent cetaceans in their natural environment is an unforgettable experience and over the last three years I travelled to Bimini where a resident population is known for their playfulness with freedivers. They are incredibly fast and acrobatic, making most encounters high-energy and unpredictable, which can be challenging to photograph. I wanted to create an image that captured their playful spirit and the serene beauty of seeing them in the wild—a stark contrast to those most people unfortunately only see in captivity. On this day we found a large pod of thirty individuals and as I positioned myself near the bottom, a group separated towards me in perfect symmetry with a juvenile gracefully cantered below. This image captures our moment of connection and for me symbolizes the perfect balance of nature.

Judge's comment: A split second in a fast moving encounter with wild animals perfectly timed and with each dolphin contributing to the story. Quality shots like this make it look easy.
Peter Rowlands