Soft coral reef scene with shoal of fish in the background
Location & date
Malapascua, Philippines: 19th November 2014
Subject
A fish-eye view of a coral reef in Calanggaman island near Malapascua, Philippines. The soft coral in the foreground is Dendronephthya sp.
About this image
Calanggaman island is how you would imagine a tropical paradise island to look. Some of the coral reefs surrounding it have been designated Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and there are permanent rangers and regular patrols in the area. This means in conservation terms that the reefs have higher levels of fish life. Fish shoals like the one in the background of this image are regular occurrences on the reef. This, sadly, can not be said of all the reefs in this region.
Camera setup
Nikon D800, 15mm Sigma fisheye lens in a Nauticam NA-D800 housing with two Inon Z240 strobes
ISO 100, f/11, 1/125 sec
More like this:
Malapascua 2014 Portfolio gallery (on Toby Gibson Portfolio site)
Gallery of Philippines wildlife (on this site)