Description
LOCATION: Papua New Guinea (my former home!)
STORY BEHIND THE SHOT: Underwater photographers have a habit of spending all their time hunting for the rarest creatures. I love that too, but I often debate the topic that time, money, and energy might be better spent focusing on creating novel images using new techniques on more common (or seasonally abundant) subjects, such as this spine-cheek anemonefish (aka maroon clownfish) (Amphiprion biaculeatus) in it’s host bubble-tip anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor). In this case, I’m remaining perfectly still, but using a long exposure. The motion of the ocean sways the anemone’s tentacles, but the pop of light from my flash freezes the clownfish still. The result is a much cooler effect than the average clownfish photo that we’ve all seen a thousand times. You’ll see variations of this technique in quite a few of my prints – sometimes subtle, and other times (like this one) quite obvious.
This is a female, as she is approaching 5″. The males, like the <1″ model in the Fish Faces print, Snaggletooth, are much smaller. Interestingly, all clownfish are born as males, and if they survive long enough and the larger female in their anemone dies, the male will transition into a female, go through a sudden growth spurt, and become the boss-fish of the nest. But there can be only one female per anemone, and only one fertile male as well. All others are smaller, infertile males, biding their time and hoping to one day work their way up the totem pole.
FOR PURCHASING FAST THEN SLOW AS A FINE ART ALUMINUM PRINT: Order horizontal standard sizes here online, or contact our design staff for custom sizing up to 72″ wide.