UPY 2025

UPY  Wide Angle - Commended
'Circle of Life'
Chong Wan Yong

I first experienced Moalboal’s sardine run 8 years ago, but without an underwater camera, I couldn’t capture the magic. After years of perfecting my underwater photography, the memory of those sardines lingered. This year, I finally returned. Although the weather was overcast and the shoal seemed smaller than before, my dive guide Tata worked his magic. With a torch in hand, he swam through the sardines, coaxing them into breathtaking formations. Thanks to his expert guidance, I was able to capture the spectacle in all its splendour. It was an unforgettable experience.

Judge's comment: A beautiful image full of mood and depth through the frame. Personally, the model’s torch would have been more effective pointing towards a part of the shoal but the shape of the shoal creates a visual spectacle and I would love to have been there.

Peter Rowlands