Some of the best underwater photos you’ll see are most often of the tiniest little creatures of the sea. One blink and you can miss them when on a dive. However, these nano creatures of the seas, have some of the most interesting patterns, textures and colors, when captured by underwater macro photography that translate into stunning photographs.
In the past we’ve looked at some macro-worthy subjects including Nudibranchs, the Leafy Sea Dragon, Mantis Shrimp, Mandarinfish, sea horses, ghost pipefish, flamingo tongue snails and the ever popular clownfish. Here’s a look at some more small creatures to keep a look out for as great subjects for underwater macro photography -
Cowries & Sea Snails
These mollusks rank high up there on our underwater macro subjects list along with their shell-less cousins the nudibranch, because of the sheer varieties, colors and textures they are found in. The cowry or cowrie as it’s also spelled are those sea snails that feature the egg shaped shells which is smooth shiny and patterned on top and rather flat on the underside, with a narrow, slit-like opening often toothed at the edges. They are found almost all over the world and quite the underwater photographers delight as trying to spot and capture as many different ones as possible can become an addictive hobby.
(Pictured above a Moon Sea Snail & below a bunch of cowries on a soft coral by Nick Hobgoood on flickr)
Christmas Tree Worms
Christmas Tree Worms are truly captivating inhabitants of the coral reef, and seldom will you find a scuba diver that will simply pass on by a coral-head teeming with these tiny creatures without being drawn to their beauty, or take a macro photograph, or to simply give them a gentle flick just to see them retract into the coral head like a mesmerizing vanishing trick. This tube worm species is widely distributed throughout the world’s tropical oceans, known to occur from the Caribbean to the Indo-Pacific and is an instant underwater photography favorite because of it’s bright colors and color combinations and patterns. (Read more in Hark The Herald the Christmas Tree Worm)
(Pictured above: Christmas tree worms byNick Hobgoood on flickr)
Sea Stars
Sea Stars or Starfish as they are better known are fascinating creatures of our Oceans. There are over 2,000 species of Sea stars across the World’s Oceans. They typically have five “arms” and while these are the most common of sea stars, species with 10, 20 and even 40 arms exist. Starfish or Sea stars rather, have radial symmetry which makes them distinctive from other sea animals. They come in striking colors that can work as a camouflage and inspite their bony or spiny upper surface, are very attractive creatures to photograph. (Read more in The Stars of the Ocean)
(Pictured above: Sea Stars/ Starfish byNick Hobgoood on flickr)
As the list of Macro worthy creatures of the sea is endless look out for more posts on this subject to come!
