Congratulations are in order to all of the winners in this year’s prestigious Underwater Photographer of the Year (UPY) awards. In a year when there have not been as many opportunities to go diving as there would normally be it is a joy to see such an incredible standard of images.
Renee Capozzola took the top prize with ‘Shark’s Skylight’ taken in French Polynesia, described by the judges as ‘a sunset ballet of reef sharks and sea birds’.
The category winners include Kirsty Andrews whose SS Hispania image – shown above – won the British Waters Living Together category. The photo features in Kirsty’s Mull section in Will Appleyard’s Wild and Temperate Seas: 50 Favourite UK Dives, which itself made the UPY Book of the Year recommended reading list. Kirsty also achieved two Highly Commended placings in British wide and macro categories – well done! Fellow WATS contributor (plus Glass and Water foreword writer) Dan Bolt achieved various placings and Commended images in the British categories too.
Forthcoming Dived Up author, underwater photographer Rick Ayrton achieved two Highly Commended images in the Wrecks category with challenging photos expertly executed on deep dives – fantastic images.
Well done to Kirsty, Will, Dan, Rick, all the winners and to everyone else who took part. All of the winning photos, commentaries and winner acceptance videos can be viewed at underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com
