Rare Marine Species to Capture
For the ocean-loving photographer, the ability to shoot rare marine animals is like stumbling upon the jackpot. There’s an unseen world in the water-aways teeming with strange creatures that are lovely to behold and which, unless one knows where to look for them, are pretty hard to find. From the enormous blue whale right down to the small colored critters, endless wonders lie beneath the waves, begging to be photographed.
The Blue Whale: Giant of the Ocean
Not many get to see a blue whale, let alone capture it on camera. The largest animals in the world, these huge creatures can stretch up to 100 feet in length and manage to glide through the water with great elegance. Capturing a blue whale is quite hard; if captured, though, it is indeed a sight.
Where to Find Them: Look around the coasts of Sri Lanka, California, and Canada’s Gulf of St. Lawrence. Such are migrations of the blue whales, which means quite often the best time to see them is from late spring to early fall.
Photographing Instructions: Shoot with a wide-angle lens showing their enormity and with natural light to show the skin’s bluish color.
Mola Mola – The Mysterious Ocean Sunfish
The Mola Mola is also commonly referred to as the Ocean Sunfish and is by all means the most bizarrely looking fish that could be out there in the sea. From the round body, almost in flat shape, down to the fin sticking out of the water, this is one oddball fish. They have been reported to grow over 10 feet tall and weigh as much as a car, hence making any encounter with them unforgettable.
Where to Find Them: These gentle giants prefer warmer waters. You can find them off the shores of Bali, around the Galapagos Islands, or even farther north, off California’s coast, during the summer months.
Photography Tips: Try shooting from low to show off the unusual shape. Slow, smooth movements are key to not spooking them!
The Mandarin Fish
Bright colors send you into an ecstatic high? Well, the mandarin fish is a dream within a dream. With undulating patterns across their tiny frames in streaks of blues, oranges, and greens, they look like swimmers come to life from a painting. Shy and fond of concealing themselves, this makes them a little tricky to figure out with your camera, but that only adds to their allure.
Where to Find Them: The coral reefs of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Australia are perfect. Look for them during their most active time: at night.
Pro Tip: A macro lens helps get close shots. Since these fish are small and shy, approach them very slowly. Avoid bright flashes of light since they will run instantly.
Harlequin Shrimp
The harlequin shrimp is small but striking, with bright blue and orange markings on its body. Because of their distinct pattern, these shrimp have turned iconic and are the best subjects for macro photography. They are also known for their bizarre eating habits, often munching on sea stars-oddly fascinating captures in an image.
Where to Find Them: Look for them around the reefs of Hawaii, in the Indo-Pacific, and in waters off the Maldives.
Photo Hints: Approach with a macro lens. Use natural light if at all possible. Harlequin shrimp are normally seen in pairs, so if you find one, look for the second!
The Leafy Sea Dragon
The leafy sea dragon is a surreal creature, straight out of any book of fairy tales, having thin, leaflike appendages that enable it to blend in with seaweed. It is a close relative of the seahorse and an extremely sought-after rarity for underwater photographers.
Where to Spot Them: These awesome creatures can be viewed in Southern Australia. They live among kelp forests and rocky reefs and keep themselves well hidden.
Photography Tips: These require calm approaches; getting too close can mean one step too quick, and they’re off running for cover. Sometimes using a longer lens helps keep a safe distance while capturing the details, and the subtle colors show up nice in natural light.
Giant Pacific Octopus
The Giant Pacific Octopus is an elusive animal that rarely sees humans. It is massive in size and intelligent; it attains a length of 16 feet and weighs over 110 pounds but is hard to spot because it hides in rocky crevices and kelp forests.
Where to Find Them:
Look for them along coasts of Alaska, British Columbia, and California in deeper waters and rocky habitats.
Photography Tips:
Photography should be done in poor light conditions; high-sensitivity cameras, underwater lighting, are used to shoot the octopus. A shy animal that requires a much slower approach is needed.
