UPY 2025

UPY  Up & Coming - Third
'Pink Cheeks'
Autumn Martin

This was my first time taking a camera underwater, and was nervous but excited. My goal was to get a tiny nudibranch in focus, and with the support of my husband, Adam Martin, and our amazing guides, I quickly fell in love with macro photography. The excitement of getting a 'good' image was challenging and exhilarating. After photographing a few other Shaun the Sheep nudibranchs and others, I decided to step up the challenge by adding the SMC lens. By the fifth dive, I finally spotted this perfect little creature. With a deep breath and a lot of patience, I took multiple shots, hoping to capture its beauty. The experience was incredibly rewarding, sparking my passion for underwater macro photography. It’s a journey that taught me persistence and patience, and I’m thrilled to have captured something I can truly be proud of.

Judge's comment: Shooting these kind of nudibranch is not easy at all. The sheer size is already a challenge but the photographer executed it perfectly. The simple sharpness of this tiny animal caught my eye from the first moment, rounded up by the use of a snoot and an excellent composition it's a minimalistic shot which has been captured on a very high level.

Tobias Friedrich