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February 2025 Wildlife Photography Contest Intermediate Winner

Theme: Black and White

February 2025 Intermediate Winner (Theme "Black and White"): “Up Through A Jellyfish Universe” by Carol May
February 2025 Intermediate Winner (Theme "Black and White"): “Up Through A Jellyfish Universe” by Carol May

“Up Through A Jellyfish Universe ” by Carol May

This photograph was taken in Palau’s famous Jellyfish Lake, home to millions of Golden Jellyfish (Mastigias papua). These jellyfish, which have evolved without the ability to sting, move across the lake daily in synchronization with the sun’s path—a mesmerizing spectacle driven by their symbiotic algae.

I had a vision for this shot. I wanted to capture the surreal feeling of floating through a pulsating galaxy of jellyfish—as if I were drifting through space in another universe. But turning that vision into reality was a challenge.

Because the lake has a highly toxic anaerobic layer about 15 meters below the surface, scuba diving is not an option. Instead, I had to snorkel down just deep enough to frame my ascent while still allowing time to surface safely.

Shooting directly into the sun posed another challenge—I risked overexposing the highlights. To counter this, I attempted to position myself so the silhouettes of the jellyfish would block the sun’s glare. But the unpredictable movement of the jellyfish, combined with my own motion during the ascent, made composition tricky. And, of course, throughout it all—I was holding my breath.

Adding to the challenge, I was using a compact camera with no manual control over shutter speed. But sometimes, perseverance and creativity can overcome equipment limitations. After countless attempts, I finally achieved the image I had envisioned—a moment suspended in time, floating through a jellyfish universe.

Winning Wildlife Photographer: Carol May