PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Stefan Gerrits | Low Tide

Name: Stefan Gerrits
Picture title: Low Tide
Category: People’s Choice
Nationality: The Netherlands (origin) – Finland (residence)
Occupation: I work part-time in photography. I also have a part-time job in marketing and sales for cybersecurity. I’m currently reconsidering my position in both fields. I’m becoming increasingly enthusiastic about photography. I’ve been taking photos for over 10 years.

Technical information
Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark II
Lens: RF14-35mm F4 L IS USM
EXIF: ƒ/10.0 – 35.0 mm – 1/60s – ISO500
Accessories: –

Stefan Gerrits says:

Blue mussels in Varangerfjord are a vital part of the Arctic marine ecosystem and a crucial winter food source for a wide range of animals, such as the common eider. Marine life has adapted remarkably well to Arctic conditions. Many species have a slowed metabolism, antifreeze, or protein, allowing them to survive extreme cold and fluctuating salinity. Blue mussels can tolerate subzero temperatures and prolonged exposure to the air during low tide. These characteristics allow them to thrive in the intertidal zone, despite icy winds and snow-covered shores. The photo has been inverted to create a more graphic, perhaps unexpected, high-key image.

I was photographing Purple Sandpipers when the receding tide revealed a large cluster of barnacles, followed by tens of thousands of mussels. The patterns were beautiful, and I immediately shifted my attention from the birds to the shellfish. Because I expected the photo to be inverted, I adjusted my settings accordingly. I underexposed the photo by -2 1/3 EV, so that the dark tones would be converted into bright tones after inverting. This creates this striking and even colorful effect.