UPY 2025

UPY  Portrait - Commended
'Open Wide'
Filippo Borghi

Leopard seals are major predators in the Antarctic and grow to nearly 4 metres in length and are active predators of penguins and other seals and sea lions at the ice edge. However their varied teeth also allow them to feed on small prey, like krill. Occasionally they have killed people, making a close encounter like this, particularly exciting.

Judge's comment: Leopard seals are one of the most fearsome predators in the ocean and this portrait captures the business end. This is presumably a playful pose, but there is no escaping the power of these cavernous jaws.
Alex Mustard