UPY 2025

UPY  British Waters Macro - Winner
'The Hitch Hiker'
Dan Bolt

Occasionally in my time under the water I have come across this medusa ‘Neoturris pileata’ in the open water but had not taken a decent photo of one. On this occasion however, my buddy and I were specifically targeting them and other similar creatures to try to explore the idea of UK ‘blackwater’ photographic opportunities. Of the many, many(!), images I took that day, this one revealed a larval crustacean within the bell of this medusa. The frames either side of this capture actually show that the larval crab (or lobster) is actually on the outside of the bell, but in this instant it was perfectly on the opposite side from me and hence the effect of being contained within the transparent body.

Judge's comment: This is a beautiful and rarely see jellyfish, but the wow moment really comes when you spot the hitchhiking shrimp through the transparent bell. Stunning, surprising and novel.

Alex Mustard