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UPY 2026 Wrecks - Third
'Silent Heart'
Atsushi Hori
This engine room of the Kensho Maru is one of the most iconic and popular photographic sites in Truk Lagoon. With careful pre-planning, I brought in five video lights to precisely illuminate the engine piston, spare piston, and the ladder leading to the catwalk, balancing them with the natural light filtering through the skylight. While shooting, another group of divers ascended from the lower level and entered this beautiful space. As one diver moved toward me, I instinctively released the shutter from what I felt was the perfect position. The diver’s presence enhances the sense of scale, completing the composition and turning this image into a decisive moment. This moment connects human presence with the silent remains of history beneath the sea.
Judge's comment: A favourite, but challenging location for photos is captured expertly with atmosphere, detail and a strong sense of exploration. Amazing to learn, on reading the caption, that the perfectly placed diver, was simply passing through.
Alex Mustard
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