© Nuno Sá / UPY2024
R ‘ Save our Seas Foundation ’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the year
Saving Goliath by Nuno Sá
The golden beaches of Costa da Caparica , just across the river from Lisbon , were packed with sun seekers on this sunny day .
And then something unusual caught their attention on the horizon . A massive sperm whale seemed to be struggling to swim as it slowly moved towards the coast . Soon its giant wounded body was passing by surfers and swimmers , reaching the shallow waters of the beach . But suddenly dozens of sun seekers started running towards the whale . Together they pushed
and chanted , trying to help the giant back into the sea , as it slowly slapped its tail back and forth , breathing heavily . Several hours later the whale took its last breath , its body crushed by gravity as it lay on the sand . An estimated 20,000 whales are killed every year , and many more injured , after being struck by ships . Few people even realise that it happens .
S UPY Wrecks - Winner
Chieftain Tanks by Martin Broen
Together with an amazing group of photographers I had the honour to be invited to compete in the first Aqaba underwater photo competition in Jordan , where a highlight is the underwater military museum . An unusual sight of war machines sunk in 15 to 28 metres of water and stationed along the sand in tactical battle formation .
I wanted to capture the symmetry of the Chieftain tanks and the strong presence of their 120mm guns , but the position where I could shoot that image with my fisheye lens was occupied by a military ambulance . Therefore , I experimented with a six-shot panorama from a point between the guns , which allowed me to recreate the virtual position further back , and portray the elegant symmetry of the tanks .
© Martin Broen / UPY2024
Underwater Photographer of the Year is a prestigious UK-based competition , open to photographers from all over the world . The presiding judges are Alex Mustard , Peter Rowlands and Martin Edge . To see more winners , download the UPY yearbook and find out more , go to underwaterphotographeroftheyear . com
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