well, got round to posting at long last. sorry for the delay. one thing i miss about not having a permanent base for so long is having to rely on internet cafes to do my internet work. not inspiring especially as the nearest one is 30 minutes walk away.
anyway, have had a good season in the red sea, and now it's time to move onto a couple of big projects, and anotehr country.
here is one of my favourite shots, well it was and then i got lucky and managed to get about five more similar ones this week that i havent processed yet, some of which might be better than this one.
i'm not sure how it will come up on the internet but the impressive gaping behaviour of the coral grouper is brought about by a gentle tapping on its face by the little partner shrimp, who then trustingly slips in between all those teeth to do the grouper a favour and give them a good clean. these shrimps can live in large groups on pinnacles of coral and are visited or even resided around by these groupers who take great advantage in the little almost transparent shrimp. it's quite addictive watching them, and frustrating having to end the dive.
hope you enjoy.
ps. more news since i posted last....i managed to get my wife pregnant!!! expecting in march. see...sometimes it's good not to be able to get to the internet
mark
Posted by David Kjaer on October 2, 2006 at 3:34 AM
Wow love it, what a colourful and interesting image. I suspect if it were not for your copyright I would be suggesting the subject were positioned more to the left of the frame!
Super, I too would like it moved more to the left, great colour but I might try and tone down the mouth and the shrimp as detail seems to be lacking prob down to web compresssion..
Like it and good to see your U/W images again, looking forward to more.
Posted by John Chapman on October 2, 2006 at 6:46 AM
Hi Mark
what a stunner.
John
Aberdeen
Posted by Paul Gibbs on October 2, 2006 at 9:18 AM
Posted by Erik Lundh on October 2, 2006 at 5:52 PM
Mark,
I hope you folks don't mind be dropping by to say hello and compliment you on an awesome image. What was your set up for this shot? How do the shrimp get out of the fish's mouth? I take it these fish never eat the shrimp?
Posted by Malcolm Muir on October 2, 2006 at 6:17 PM
Hi Mark
Love this image. Like you I can happily spend a whole dive hanging round a cleaning station - totally addictive.
erik, no problem, thanks for the comments. i was using a 105 macro, probably only at about 70 mm, it allows me to get close but allows me to also keep a bit of distance so i don't disturb the behaviour. i used two strobes, untilk recently i was only using one. enough light can be gained from one, but two helps to even out or eliminate shadows. water seems to cause more direct light travel and so prevents any bouncing from surrounding object that might provide some fill in land subjects.
the shrimps hang around the station and usually slide onto the face of the grouper, making thier way to the mouth or the gills. they will tap the host quite hard with their tail and if the host wants, i will open its mouth. if one extends a hand near to the shrimps, they will cautiously examine your hand with the antenna, and sensing no danger will readily hop on and clean. the tapping is quite fierce and obvious, but as yet i havent opened my mouth to get the teeth done!!
as yet i havent seen any groupers eat the shrimp. the groupers tend to be in residence to prey on the yellow sweepers or glassfish that are resident on the pinnacle in great numbers. the groupers will also fiercly drive off any preying jacks that pass. the whole thing is very interestingly interwoven. hours of fun and the air always runs out for me oh so soon!!
i'm hoping to make a short film of all this in the coming days. keep and eye out on my new filming site. www.eyemocean.com
Discussion
8 replieswell, got round to posting at long last. sorry for the delay. one thing i miss about not having a permanent base for so long is having to rely on internet cafes to do my internet work. not inspiring especially as the nearest one is 30 minutes walk away.
anyway, have had a good season in the red sea, and now it's time to move onto a couple of big projects, and anotehr country.
here is one of my favourite shots, well it was and then i got lucky and managed to get about five more similar ones this week that i havent processed yet, some of which might be better than this one.
i'm not sure how it will come up on the internet but the impressive gaping behaviour of the coral grouper is brought about by a gentle tapping on its face by the little partner shrimp, who then trustingly slips in between all those teeth to do the grouper a favour and give them a good clean. these shrimps can live in large groups on pinnacles of coral and are visited or even resided around by these groupers who take great advantage in the little almost transparent shrimp. it's quite addictive watching them, and frustrating having to end the dive.
hope you enjoy.
ps. more news since i posted last....i managed to get my wife pregnant!!! expecting in march. see...sometimes it's good not to be able to get to the internet
mark
David
Like it and good to see your U/W images again, looking forward to more.
what a stunner.
John
Aberdeen
Very vibrant colour, and superb moment captured
Alan
I hope you folks don't mind be dropping by to say hello and compliment you on an awesome image. What was your set up for this shot? How do the shrimp get out of the fish's mouth? I take it these fish never eat the shrimp?
Love this image. Like you I can happily spend a whole dive hanging round a cleaning station - totally addictive.
Cheers
Malcolm
thanks for your comments all,
erik, no problem, thanks for the comments. i was using a 105 macro, probably only at about 70 mm, it allows me to get close but allows me to also keep a bit of distance so i don't disturb the behaviour. i used two strobes, untilk recently i was only using one. enough light can be gained from one, but two helps to even out or eliminate shadows. water seems to cause more direct light travel and so prevents any bouncing from surrounding object that might provide some fill in land subjects.
the shrimps hang around the station and usually slide onto the face of the grouper, making thier way to the mouth or the gills. they will tap the host quite hard with their tail and if the host wants, i will open its mouth. if one extends a hand near to the shrimps, they will cautiously examine your hand with the antenna, and sensing no danger will readily hop on and clean. the tapping is quite fierce and obvious, but as yet i havent opened my mouth to get the teeth done!!
as yet i havent seen any groupers eat the shrimp. the groupers tend to be in residence to prey on the yellow sweepers or glassfish that are resident on the pinnacle in great numbers. the groupers will also fiercly drive off any preying jacks that pass. the whole thing is very interestingly interwoven. hours of fun and the air always runs out for me oh so soon!!
i'm hoping to make a short film of all this in the coming days. keep and eye out on my new filming site. www.eyemocean.com
thanks all,
mark