UPY 2025

UPY  Portrait - Highly Commended
'Harmony Beneath the Waves'
George Kuo-Wei Kao

Sunlight dances through the water, illuminating a fisherman as he places a bamboo Bubu trap with quiet reverence. This simple act reflects an ancient harmony—taking only what is needed, leaving coral and fish untouched to renew.
To capture this fleeting moment, I used dual strobes to enhance the vibrant colours of the coral reef and highlight the fisherman’s deliberate movements. Careful positioning and timing were crucial to preserve the natural atmosphere while accentuating the subject. The Bubu embodies mindfulness in practice: crafted to coexist, set and retrieved with care, it honours the rhythm of the sea, within the span of a single breath.

Judge's comment: Good idea for a portrait shot! The expression of the fisher is so nice to look at and it fits very well in the shallow water with the sunrays from behind. Good light on everything, maybe a tiny bit too much. I think it could look very nice even without artificial light, too.

Tobias Friedrich