UPY 2025

UPY  Macro - Commended
'Octopus riding a solitary salp'
Magnus Lundgren

On this night the ocean was full of gelatinous organisms. Thousands of jellyifish drifters (like genuine jellyfish, medusa hydroids and salps) were passing through the light coming from our “downline” in Balayan bay, off Anilao, Philippines. I was in casual test shooting mode, trying out the Sony’s 50mm macro lens more than anything else. Then in the last minute of the dive this tiny octopus (an unknown species to me) showed up riding a solitary glass-like salp (basically a pelagic tunicate). I was very excited to see it and it took a short while for me to cool down and be able shoot some decent frames!

Judge's comment: Blackwater photos once dominated this category, but the more we’ve awarded the harder it is to impress the judges with something new. We love the animation of this octopus clinging onto the salp, the action really elevates this image.

Alex Mustard