UPY 2025

UPY  Wrecks - Highly Commended
'Truk truck'
Rick Ayrton

This is a Nissan Flat bed truck in hold No.2 of the Nagano Maru, sunk during Operation Hailstone in February 1944. One of the deeper wrecks in Truk Lagoon, the truck is at about 55 meters. Fellow photographer Kieran Hatton had kindly agreed to set aside his own camera for this dive, offering to place and use video lights to illuminate the truck. I had to get into position to capture the image and was using settings that would allow ambient light to be a large part of the scene, showing the wider hold away from the truck. Silt was a problem here and I did not get long to take the shot before the visibility deteriorated. My strobes were set on the minimum in reduced power mode and used to light Kieran and the hold walls. Kieran's hand held videolight is obviously lighting the main subject.

Judge's comment: An evocative image of wreck exploration, that shows the value of teamwork in producing quality wreck photos at depth. Great work Rick and Kieran.

Alex Mustard