UPY 2025

UPY  Black & White - Third
'Grayscale Reverie'
Nur Tucker

I love spending time in my pool photographing friends in Turkey. My beautiful friend Melisa was staying with me, and I managed to persuade her to do some modelling underwater. The aim was just to pass time, be silly and have fun. Spontaneously the outfits, an acrylic mirror, accessories and a head piece came together. The sun’s rays were so strong that the pool underwater turned into a kaleidoscope of ripples and fractured light.
Though our main accessory unexpectedly broke during the session, it added a layer of imperfection that “mirrored” the unpredictable beauty of our day together. This photograph isn't just a visual—it’s a memory of great times, surrounded with light and water.

Judge's comment: Nur is a former winner of our Most Promising award and the inventiveness poured into this frame shows why. Graphically powerful and filled with fascinating optical details in perfect and imperfect reflections, all created by two friends having fun.

Alex Mustard