NAD Lembeh

The Crinoid Shrimp is a specialist that has fully committed to life within the branches of a feather star. They are among the most camouflaged crustaceans in the ocean, having evolved a body shape and pattern that perfectly mimics the feathery pinnules of their host. In a place like the Lembeh Strait, where crinoids come in every imaginable shade, these shrimps have adapted accordingly, displaying intricate stripes and spots.

What’s fascinating is how they move within their host. They don't just sit still; they navigate the "forest" of the crinoid’s arms to find the best spots for scavenging. They primarily feed on the organic particles that the feather star traps from the current, essentially acting as a tiny cleaning crew.

Capturing a clear image of a Crinoid Shrimp requires a high level of technical precision because the host is constantly in motion. Feather stars sway with even the slightest surge, and the shrimp is often tucked deep inside the arms or clinging to the underside of a branch. To get a shot that actually makes sense to the viewer, you have to wait until the moment where the shrimp changes location.

The most effective portraits are those that show the shrimp in profile against the repeating patterns of the crinoid. You want to get the lens as close as possible to the same plane as the shrimp, focusing specifically on the eyes and the small, delicate rostrum. When you manage to separate the shrimp’s striped body from the identical stripes of the host, it highlights just how incredible their evolution is.

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#水中写真 #ダイビング

The Diamond Squid is one of the most architectural creatures you’ll encounter in the open water. Named for the massive fins that run the entire length of its mantle, it creates a perfect diamond silhouette that is unmistakable during a blackwater dive. While they are often translucent to blend into the pelagic environment, they are capable of near-instant colour changes.

These squids are built for high-speed hunting in the water column. They use a powerful form of jet propulsion to move with precision, using their eight arms and two long feeding te****les to sn**ch up small fish and crustaceans. Unlike the smaller bobtail squids or reef species, the Diamond Squid has a much more imposing presence. Its large, dark eyes are highly developed for spotting movement in the pitch black, and seeing one actively hunting in your torch beam gives you a real sense of their efficiency as a predator.

From a photography perspective, the challenge is all about capturing that geometric shape. Because they are often highly reflective, you want to use your lighting carefully to define the edges of the mantle and some of their fantastic colours without "blowing out" the highlights.

Documenting these squids is always rewarding because so much of their life cycle remains a mystery; every image adds a little more detail to our understanding of how these pelagic hunters survive in the vastness of the open sea.

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#水中写真 #ダイビング

The Painted Frogfish is one of the larger frogfish species you’ll find on the reef, and it’s a perfect example of how "ugly" can be beautiful. Unlike some of the smaller, more cryptic species, these guys can grow to a decent size and are often found perched on sponges that match their colour perfectly.

One of the best things about the Painted Frogfish is the variety of colours they can display. Depending on the environment, they can be anything from bright red and orange to mottled greens or even jet black. They are covered in small, circular spots that look remarkably like the holes in a sponge, which helps break up their silhouette. They don't have a swim bladder, so they don't really "swim" in the traditional sense. Instead, they use their pectorals like hands to "walk" across the substrate, looking for a prime spot to set up an ambush.

Because they look so much like the sponges they sit on, the main challenge is making the fish stand out from its surroundings. If you shoot with a wide aperture, you can create a shallow depth of field that blurs the "busy" texture of the reef, leaving the frogfish as the clear subject. Alternatively, using a narrow beam or a snoot allows you to highlight the animal while letting the background fall into shadow.

A critical element of the shot is the eye. Since the body is so lumpy and irregular, people need a clear focal point to help them recognise what they are looking at. Once you have solid eye contact, the rest of the bizarre anatomy—from the prehensile fins to the lure—starts to make sense to the viewer, showing off the frogfish as the highly specialised predator it is.

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#水中写真 #ダイビング