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UPY 2026 Behaviour - Highly Commended
'The swift predator of Echizen'
Naohiro Takasu
I work part-time as a divemaster in Echizen, Japan, and spend my free time diving with a camera. Over the years, I had repeatedly spotted bigfin reef squid, often accompanied by small fish cautiously hiding among the seagrass. One early autumn morning, while searching for a sea goldie, my friend discovered a squid resting atop the reef, perfectly illuminated by the morning sun. The sight was mesmerizing. We became completely absorbed, taking hundreds of images as the squid held its position. In the end, I captured this moment—one individual poised proudly against a deep blue background.
I am deeply grateful to UPY judges Alex and Martin. Through their books and the inspiration provided by UPY itself, I learned invaluable lessons that shaped my photography. Thanks to that experience, I can now confidently share photography advice with the divers I guide.
Judge's comment: Great capture of a really unseen moment or at least un-photographed moment! It's really nice to read that the photographer recognised this special situation and took his time to wait for the perfect background and not only shooting the behaviour. This is the step on photography where you not just take the image but master it!
Tobias Friedrich
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