Highly Commended - British and Irish Underwater Photography Championships, September 2017.

Close-Up Category

"It is great to see courage on the day with a photographer using some higher
risk different techniques that can also be high payoff. The abstract result
here from what we guess was some slow shutter speed work has high
impact. It shows colour and movement, with an almost fire-like quality in the
result. It could be jewel anemones (and we know now probably not), but it
doesn’t matter; the result speaks for itself and kudos for trying something
different. The image grabbed attention and picked up top marks from one
of the judges"

The algae was dotted around the bottom of a fresh water lake, in-between clumps of weedy stuff. The real challenge with this image was in managing the light. The amazing colours of the algae were masked by this strange milky layer floating over it (like the effect of a mirage or halocline). And so trying to pull out the colour and not completely blow-out the wisps of white was a little foxy.

The championships are a 24hr competition shoot-out. It's a time-critical National event during which photographers are challenged to dive, take underwater photographs, download their efforts, post-produce within strict guidelines and then submit a maximum of two entries. Delighted to have made the final cut and pick up an award

Bronze on the ceiling!

Location: Buckland Lake Nature Reserve, Cliffe, Kent, UK

Photographer: Laura Storm