UPY 2025

UPY  British Waters Wide Angle - Runner Up
'Curled octopus (Eledone cirrhosa) with soft coral'
Simon Temple

My encounters with octopuses in the UK are usually unplanned. This one was no exception. It was early May, and visibility was poor. I chose my widest lens and planned to drift along the reef with the flood tide, capturing what I could among the soft corals.
Midway through the dive, the current surged unexpectedly, turning our gentle drift into a rapid ride. Then I saw it: an octopus perched high on the reef wall. I kicked hard against the current, raising my camera as it observed me calmly. The tide was relentless, and I managed only four shots before it pulled me away. As I drifted, I glanced back for one last look. The octopus remained, seemingly unfazed by our encounter, but out of range.

Judge's comment: An excellent shot of an iconic UK subject that is being seen more and more around our shores. The soft lighting highlights the pastel colours and the scenery recedes out of the frame to create depth perfected by great eye contact and a classic pose.

Peter Rowlands