UPY 2025

UPY  Black & White - Runner Up
'Water Zen'
James Rokop

This image was taken at the Los Angeles Olympic send-off event for the USA Olympic Artistic Swimming Team. As the event photographer, I was able to photograph the team both underwater and from land. In this shot, the swimmer is warming up before the team's demonstration of their 2024 Paris Olympic routines by standing on the bottom of the pool engaged in a breathing exercise. Artistic swimmers have an incredible lung capacity and they are able to perform these unusual feats such as standing on the bottom of the pool, effortlessly. This was the only swimmer using the bottom of the pool like this for her warm-up and the unusual sight immediately captured my attention. The image evoked a sense of peace and calmness.

Judge's comment: A pinpoint composition that works so brilliantly in black and white, creating a beautiful image filled with the tranquility of the underwater world. We didn’t know it during judging, but we particularly love that this image was observed and not posed.

Alex Mustard