I dive and take photos under water for more than 15 years. I was in many places and saw a huge number of different marine inhabitants. But there are things that never leave me indifferent. I can not swim past them. And I take photographs and then process them.
It's not just one creature or object. I'm talking about the details. Small details of sea creatures. For the most part it's about fish, well, or corals. Since all sorts of crabs and other small things, pull on the title of the details themselves. And to photo something on them, you need to drag a big microscope under the water.
So I shoot and I mainly look at the fins, eyes, gills and tails with scales. Unlike freshwater fish, the marine fish are almost always bright and have a pattern. This pattern can be formed by color transitions or different anatomical details.
In this case, each species has its own interesting parts. Moreover, they can often differ for different individuals of the same species.
The fish rarely care about that their colors look good on the photo. Therefore, we have to look for and shoot a variety of fish and more. Sometimes you need to fly around the globe in order to get the same shot. Although the simplest shots I quote from almost every trip.
To make such a photo you need to get close to the model as close as possible. The optimal distance for shooting is several centimeters. Moreover, it is desirable that the angle be strictly determined, otherwise only a small part of the fish will fall into the focus zone. After all, with macro-photo, the depth of field is very small, and is measured in millimeters. And we are trying to show details that will not be visible in the un-focus
It should be understood that fish rarely go to the cooperation. Unlike corals, which do not hurry anywhere, the fish are constantly in motion. This is why a lot of such filming takes place at night dives. Then even if the fish does not sleep, then it hides somewhere. And in any case less mobile than in the day. This does not mean that it will allow you to shoot as you want. Night fish also react very sensitively to stimuli, because most predators prefer this time of day.
They also do not like bright lights. And you do understand that at night without light, nothing can be removed. So you have to go all the time to compromise. Try to look for objects in the shadows. Use basic light sources, only for the final frame. And often it happens that you will have only one attempt, since after the outbreak the fish will float away. Well, or decently puffs up the water with the movements of the fins and tail.
After this, it is usually impossible to shoot in this place. The slurry will be in the water for an hour, or even more. For this picture, there are not so many. And my collection of different details of fish replenishes very slowly. A rare trip can bring 5-10 interesting photos.
But if you manage to shoot a lot of time at night for your own pleasure, as this time on Bonair. That grows the hope that not far off is the time when I can collect a large collection that can be issued as a separate exhibition. Fish art in all its diversity and beauty. In the meantime, just a few more photos in the my piggy bank)
Island Bonaire, the Caribbean Sea.
At the photo, a parts of the angel-fish, a flute, a parrot-fish, a stingray, a lionfish, a puffer.