UPY 2025

UPY  British Waters Wide Angle - Highly Commened
'Rainbow seaweed at sunrise'
Martin Stevens

The rocky shore around Cornwall, with its stunning array of yellow, pink, red, and green seaweed, is as beautiful as any underwater environment. Yet one species stands out to me: rainbow wrack. This incredible seaweed shines iridescent blue-green. I wanted to capture a split shot at sunrise in a rock pool, with the morning sky colours and the blue seaweed below the surface. It needed planning since rainbow wrack dies back over winter, grows into impressive bushes in spring, before its colour gets bleached in the summer. So I needed to time it to get the rainbow wrack at its peak, combined with a relatively clear sunrise that coincided with a low tide. On one morning last year, it came together, with the sky a rich glow of pinks and yellows. I exposed for the sky and used strobes to illuminate the seaweed and capture its blue colour.

Judge's comment: A beautiful image with so much to entertain the eye and a well chosen split level from slightly above the waterline. This creates three levels of visual interest and provides much more depth (pun not intended). A very original image is the reward for the photographer's dedication.

Peter Rowlands