Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 – Wrecks winner
Credit name: René B. Andersen/UPY 2019
Nationality: Denmark
Image caption: Big Guns
Country taken: Ireland
Location: Malin Head
Camera make: NikonD7000
Lens: Nikon fisheye 10.5mm
ISO: 200
Aperture: f/22
Shutter: 8 sec
Lighting used: Two Big Blue 15,000 and one Big Blue 33,000 lumens
Housing: Hugyfot
My inspiration for this picture is Leigh Bishop’s black and white image of the HMS Audacious turret.
The HMS Audacious, which is laying on 64m in Malin Head, Ireland, was a dreadnought battleship which struck a mine in 1914. After she capsized, the shells magazine exploded and she sank.
I used a tripod and three Big Blue video lights to illuminate the turret with the majestic 13.5” guns and myself as the model. There was a small current so it wasn't easy to lay still during this long exposure shot. It took some time before achieving this shot and at 64m, the clock is ticking fast.
That is the challenge with deep wreck photography. When I used the tripod with me as a model, there was a risk that something would go wrong as I am far from the camera, so I had to cross my fingers every single shot.
Judge's comments
So simple yet so powerful; the additional lighting of the turret and the main diver perfectly positioned. This was a very strong category this year with a deserved winner and it's refreshing to read the acknowledgement to Leigh Bishop's pioneering work.
Peter Rowlands