Tag Archives: The Living Seas

(Acanthemblemaria maria), Blennies, Bonaire, Caribbean, Fish, Marine Life, Natural History, Nature, Nature Photography, Secretary blenny, The Living Seas, book, underwater, underwater photography, wildlife

Secretary blenny (Acanthemblemaria maria). Blennies take up residence in tiny abandoned holes in coral. Most secretive, they spend most of their time hiding inside or cautiously venturing to the opening of their coral home. They are tiny usually less than 8 cm. long. Bonaire
I saw this blenny dart into a small  hole in the coral head.  Slowly I approached and sat my camera’s down on the ocean floor, slowed my breath and waited.  Over the next forty minutes I mainly did nothing but watched and waited.  The blenny would peak it’s head out of the hole and dart back inside.  I kept repeating the same idea over and over in my mind…” I don’t want to hurt you, you’re wonderful, I just want to make a picture”.  The blenny started to stay out longer.  Gently I picked up my camera waited for the blenny to come out and stay, when it did I made one exposure, the one you’re looking at.
More underwater images can be seen at: EastepPhotography.com
Art, Interior Design, Uncategorized, underwater

Let the wildlife call the shots

Image
Art, Nature, underwater

Simply Beautiful

coral, Saba, Tubeworm, Underwater, Photography,

Serpulid Tubeworm (Ponastegus stellatus), Saba

This image of a Tubeworm photographed in Saba is beautiful.   Rather than saying more I’ll leave it at that.

To see more of my underwater images visit:  EastepPhotography.com

Standard
Nature, underwater

Light From Within

Pillar Coral, Florida, Underwater, Underwater Photography, Image, Underwater Image, Nature, Nature Photography, Marine Life, Florida Keys, The Living Seas,

Pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus). Florida Keys

When I first saw pillar coral I was  amazed by the sense that light was being emitted from within the undulating tentacles .   Coral is one of those phenomenal life forms being both animal and plant.

This image is another example of the beautiful design found in nature.

More underwater images can be seen at my image archive: EastepPhotography.com

Standard
Nature, underwater

Moon Jellyfish

Marine life, Caribbean, Natural History, Nature, Nature Photography, Saba, The Living Seas, book, underwater, underwater photography, wildlife, SCUBA, ocean

Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) Saba

When Diana Nyad completed her 110 mile swim from Cuba to Key West on September 2, 2013 it rekindled memories of my encounters with jellyfish in the Caribbean.   While photographing underwater for the book The Living Seas I swam into a swarm of jellyfish. I experienced how this magnificent creäture can be threatening.

Jellyfish sting in defense and as a way to attack prey.  The tentacles are covered with thousands of cells with stinging threads.  These stinging cells shoot out like darts shooting venom with the goal of paralyzing.  This action is capable of killing smaller marine creatures.  From first hand experience I can tell you that the effect on humans is pain, skin rashes, fever and muscle cramps. Given that I was underwater when stung  I did not have close at hand vinegar, rubbing alcohol, meat tenderizer or or baking soda. I did have one of the more effective antidotes, urine.  Trust me it works.

In spite of the potential hazard I was drawn back again and again with the goal of creating images which would celebrate the otherworldly beauty of the jellyfish.

I salute Diana Nyad.

To see additional underwater images visit my Image Archive: EastepPhotography.com

Standard