In the Hall of the Shrimp Queen
75' deep
75' deep
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Dec, 2014Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This image was made at 60’ (20 metros) on a reef off the island of Bonaire (Dutch Antilles).Time
The afternoon… my partner and I often get high for a slow afternoon dive in a place we know well. I have dove this site around 80 times over the course of 15 years (including a six week period when we lived on the island). It’s safe as can possibly be, and we set up all our equipment before we enter the water. I do not recommend diving high except for very experienced divers and stoners, it’s a very personal choice, but it certainly does open up some novel views of the reef!Lighting
These tiny Peppermint shrimp spend the day safe from predators (except eels) within a tube sponge like this one where they can retreat to the back in case of trouble, or a clumsy diver who bumps the sponge with the light or camera which sends the shrimp running. Touching also raises detritus and ruins the picture or damages the sponge so I am VERY careful not to touch the life of the reef in any manner. The light is a very bright video torch which I have mounted on a long arm and hold it so it shines through the thin walled sponge where it creates all sorts of interesting tones. I do this while hanging upside down and taking advantage of neutral buoyancy and holding my breath so as to to frighten the shrimp with my bubbles. Actually won first place in the Nat Geo international photo comp back in 2009 with a similar image.Equipment
Used a Sony Nex 5 P&S because my DSLR is too big and heavy for this project (I’ve made/published over twenty varied images in the same vein). The light was a very bright video torch.Inspiration
Beauty and magical-seeming wildlife are my inspirations. Always looking for new views in the Alice-in-Wonderland of a coral reef. 50 years of underwater photography has taught me there is no limit to the visions presented on a health reef. Unfortunately the reefs everywhere are suffering and millions of divers are part of the problem.Editing
Very little. Slight crop and removal of a speck or two.In my camera bag
Heading for Cozumel right now with an Oly OM-D Em1, u/w housing, 60 mm macro lens, 12-42 mm lens, 300mm for birding and people shots, three different diopters, couple of filters, Sony Nexus 5 with housing and 16mm lens for movies, trays, video lights (3), and SS strobes, and two white/Uv lights for night diving.Feedback
Have superlative buoyancy control and Don’t harm the reef. Keep your eyes open and be imaginative.
