BoM #507

Sometimes they get above me… before I get in position for a shot.

But that’s a pretty good pixture too.

Best of Mike #506

Angelfish and French Angelfish in particular are among my favorites to photograph.

They are about the size of a dinner plate, plentiful along the reef, often swimming in pairs.

Their distinctive coloring and willingness to be in close proximity to divers… make them great subjects for the close up portraits pixtures that I like to take.

Best of Mike #505

I have something of a “before” and “after” story for you today… or maybe it’s more of a “cool” and “cooler” story.

My first pixture is a Conch shell as I first saw it when I swam up to it. Pretty cool… especially if you look closely at the very bottom of the shell and notice the eyeball watching me.

Then I turned it over to get a burst of color and a look at the inhabitant. Do you see the eye again and notice that it is on the end of stock… all the better for looking out from under his shell.

Best of Mike #504

Trumpetfish are slender and can be up to 3ft long.

This is their most common coloring… but they are very adept at changing color and can be blue-grey or even bright yellow.

They use color change and body positioning, often swimming at angles or even head-down vertically to blend in with the background. 

They may also hover just above other fish to camouflage themselves while hunting.

Best of Mike #503

Here is a fish, in this case a Grasby, lying motionless on the bottom… because he is at a cleaning station.

If you look closely, inside his mouth… you will see the shrimp that is at work removing bacteria and parasites.

I am always fascinated that what can be a meal is sometimes not… because of the work they are doing.

And even more fascinated by… How does that get communicated?