UNDERWATER HIGHLIGHTS - The Best of My Underwater Photography

Award-winning "Cheshire Cat Grin" - A 7-foot lemon shark on the surface at sunset (you can see the orange sunset through the water).

This photo - winner of the Oceans division of Nature's Best Photography's 2008 Windland Smith Rice Awards - was on display in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History that year (and they get to display it whenever they choose). Of all the photos I've ever taken, I think this one has evoked the most comments and interest...probably because of the shark's apparent "expression," which I think is best described as the cat in Alice's Wonderland. See last page of the "Underwater Highlights" gallery for a few photos from the Smithsonian exhibit!

Aquaman - Master of the Seas?

No, just me, with my underwater camera (used to take many of the photos in this gallery) - a Canon 1Ds Mark II camera in Seacam housing with dual Inon strobes. I also use a Canon 5D Mk II in an Aquatica housing, and most recently a Lumix GX8 in a Nauticam housing. (photo 2007 by Cor Bosman)

CLOSE ENCOUNTER

This photo is representative of the awesome encounters we had with whale sharks on this trip. We snorkeled near/among dozens of 20-40ft whale sharks as they skimmed plankton (mostly bonito tuna eggs) off the surface. Jen, one of our small Wetpixel group, could literally reach out and touch this behemoth, but she just watches (in awe) respectfully as he passes.

Nemo in brown velvet (Indonesia). This is a False Clown Anemonefish, but to most people it is Nemo, the movie star. Living in a brown anemone, he is protected from predators because the anemone stings them, whereas he is immune to its sting. In return, he brings the anemone food. It is a truly symbiotic relationship.

Peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus)

Peacock Mantis Shrimp (6 inches long)

Sea lions truly seem to love swooping and zooming around! (Sea of Cortez)

Mandarinfish (2 inches) pair in mating ritual - I was extremely fortunate to capture the moment of the female releasing her eggs. This ritual, which takes place only at dusk, lasts only about 5 seconds, as the two pair up, rise above coral rubble together, and release eggs and sperm into the water simultaneously - immediately dashing back down into the rubble thereafter. This photo won second place in the macro category of the 2009 Underwater Images competition.

A Space Odyssey

This otherworldly scene reminds me of a sci-fi space scene. In reality, it is the largest school of resident sardines in the world, estimated at 7 million. (Philippines)

Yellow Ornate Ghost Pipefish pair (speaking of crinoids) living in a yellow crinoid/ As is true of many sea creatures, the large one is the female (4 inches long), and the small one is the male (2 inches).

You'll note two recurring themes in this gallery: Camouflage (critters like these that blend in so predators can't see them), and Bright/Warning shapes and colors (to make predators think twice). [Taken at Anilao, Philippines]

Coleman shrimp pair (1/2 - 1 inch) living on Fire Urchin.

In this case, you can see both camouflage and warning colors! [Taken at Anilao, Philippines]

Eye to Eye!

A Hawksbill turtle and French Angelfish get nose-to-nose in what looks like a face off! In reality, the turtle has been munching on the brown sponge (above center), and the angelfish is checking for any spongy bits on his beak/mouth.

Tomato clownfish (anemonefish), with her mate (smaller, orange) at left. (Philippines)

Hard and Soft Coral Wall (Philippines)

Hard Coral landscape (Apo Island, Philippines)

The healthiest hard coral gardens I've ever seen surround Apo Island. While not colorful like soft corals, this scene should warm the heart of divers, who realize how rare this really is. For scale, note divers top left.

Stingray City (Grand Cayman) - Diving with wild Southern Stingrays that have become acclimated to humans is a truly unique experience. Attracted by bits of squid the divers hold, the rays have no qualms about being in close quarters or even letting divers pet them (their skin is velvety-smooth) as they pass. Contrary to popular belief, stingrays do not aggressively use the stingers in their tails, but only do so as a "last resort" defense when they believe their lives are being threatened.

Small (2-3 inch long) squid at night

[Taken at Anilao Pier, Philippines]

"Fried Egg" Jellyfish (Nootka Sound, British Columbia Canada). The green is not Photoshopped in for effect. The cold waters of B.C. really are green - due to algae. Although the greens are captured with more brilliance by the camera than they appear to the diver's eye, there's no mistaking (if the 50 degree water didn't offer a clue!) that you're not in tropical waters!

Bow gun on sunken Japanese ship (Truk, Micronesia)

Bow gun on the MV San Francisco Maru. Because of the depth (this shot was taken at 165 feet), there is a bit less life growing on this gun than many of the shallower wrecks in Truk (due to less sunlight). I was feeling a little "narc'ed" on this dive (technically Nitrogen Narcosis--a high concentration of nitrogen due to the pressure, similar to the feeling you get at the dentist with nitrous oxide), so I only shot a few photos on this wreck and then headed back up. This big gun was certainly one of the highlights!

Reef scene with coral trout (lower left) and glass fish (above left) (Raja Ampat, Indonesia)

Old soul, resting on the reef

This Loggerhead turtle is likely at least 50 years old. (Bahamas)

Giant mantas flying in formation (Socorro, Mexico)

Who is posing for whom?! Bottlenose dolphin (Bahamas) interacts with snorkeler/photographer.