Hotshots

Highlights from Underwater Photographer of the Year 2022

Category Winner and My Backyard Winner, Category: Behaviour

‘All You Need Is Love’

Pekka Tuuri, Finland

“This love pond is in my backyard – a 20-minute drive from home – and it has rewarded me plentifully over the past 10 years. It is full of love in late April. The common frogs come first, then toads and finally newts. I spent four days and four night-time sessions in it in 2021. I wore a drysuit with argon, lots of undergarments and a heated vest to survive in the five-degree water. I floated and stayed put among the frogs and quite soon they accepted me and my camera as part of the scenery. The frogs climbed on top of my camera, making grunting sounds in my ears and squeezing between my face and the backplate of the camera. The active spawning time lasts about two days and nights. What an experience with lots of photo opportunities!”

Judge’s comments: “What an iconic moment and excellent reaction by Pekka Tuuri. He always comes up with different ideas and outstanding, different images. Excellent composition and light, very well done.”

Third place, Wide Angle Category

‘Against All Odds’

Hannah Le Leu, Australia

“At Heron Island, Australia, a green sea turtle hatchling cautiously surfaces for air to a sky full of hungry birds. Against all odds, this hatchling must battle through the conditions of a raging storm while evading myriad predators. Not only has the tropical storm brought out thousands of circling birds, there are also patrolling sharks and large schools of fish on the hunt for baby turtles. Only 1 in 1,000 of these hatchlings will survive – will this one do so against all odds?”