Andrii Slonchak, Mesmerising Beauty of Lion's Mane Jellyfish (ANIMAL 2024)

This entry consists of three underwater photographs of a Lion’s Mane Jellyfish. It captures an ethereal beauty of a Jellyfish gracefully entwined with a school of juvenile trevally within its tentacles. These photographs aim to shift perceptions by focusing on the unconventional beauty of a creature often deemed unpleasant and unattractive. They seek to underscore that beauty isn't always immediately evident and invite a closer examination of the remarkable details hidden within seemingly ordinary subjects. These images also reveal symbiotic relationships of the jellyfish and juvenile trelally that seek protection from the predators among the venomous tentacles. Through these works I aim to encourage a deeper connection with the underwater world and foster an appreciation for the unexpected wonders that inhabit our oceans. The photos within this entry feature the same subject in different settings. Photo with the black background draws attention to the otherworldly beauty of the jellyfish itself, while other two photos tup in into context of the environments they inhabit, swimming in open water or gathering at underwater structures like shipwreck. The photos were taken on two dives at exHMAS Brisbane Wreck, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, QLD.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.