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UPY 2026 Wide Angle - Highly Commended
'Masters of the Frozen Realm'
Lars von Ritter Zahony
A large group of Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua) emerges from the shimmering waves of the Southern Ocean, their sleek bodies glistening in the fading light. It has always been a dream to witness such a moment.
After hours of hunting in the open sea, the penguins gather in tight formations, moving with surprising grace through the surf. Each penguin has spent the day diving deep, chasing schools of fish and krill in the cold, nutrient-rich waters. Now, as evening approaches, they return to the safety of their colonies on land. It is a daily ritual, a dance between land and sea, that defines their existence in one of the most unforgiving environments on Earth. They move with astonishing speed, slicing through the waves with a grace that defies the harshness of their world. Capturing them in this raw, untamed environment is no easy task.
Judge's comment: Sleek as tuna, we loved this formation flyby, with accompanying bubble vapour-trails, showing these gentoos in the environment where they are most at home – the open Southern Ocean. Beautiful and impressive.
Alex Mustard
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