UPY 2026 British Waters Wide Angle - Third

UPY 2026 British Waters Wide Angle - Third
'Hold on tight!'
Billy Arthur

Although this is a site close to my home that I’ve snorkelled many times, the shallow, high-energy conditions posed a real chance of scratching my dome port! But I knew, that on this day, the conditions would align perfectly to make it worth attempting the shot. I braced both myself and the camera to avoid being rolled by the surge into barnacle-covered rocks. I often like to incorporate both light and dark elements in my images, and the shadow cast by the breaking waves gave me the perfect opportunity to do so here. The thongweed helps convey the energy and motion produced by the swell, and I framed it to add another layer of separation within the image. It being a shallow site allowed me to rely on natural light, which I prefer when possible. Thankfully no dome ports were harmed in the making of this image.

Judge's comment: The drama of British seas. Beautiful light, golden kelp, restless waves and mysterious shadows combined in a single frame to tell tall tales of the sea.

Alex Mustard