That satisfied feeling of scooting along on powerful boat after a productive dive at a remote location has long since evaporated. During this period of lockdown we appreciate how lucky we are to have ‘some’ access to the ocean’s playground, albeit in a slightly murky area with too much run-off from the land.  At least the main ingredients are there – fish, coral, critters, liquid.

We’re making do – finding new spots to explore using masks and snorkels. We’re adapting plans and gear to suit the breathe-holding way of underwater photography, rather than the slightly easier diving version of doing things. It’s good practise for streamlining equipment and focusing on the photographic goal. Gone are the days of clipping off an array of ‘if the opportunity arises’ kit – it’s not clever to have lots bits dangling off you – at any time – in the water, especially snorkelling.

 

The other day I came across ‘a good little earner’ on my way to a further reef. It’s a mooring line that has been colonized by ‘Padina Australis’ algae. This stuff can be a good habitat for life and is actually pretty photogenic in its own right I think.

Living in amongst the ears of padina I found a little family of very cute highfin fang blennies. Normally these chaps are tough to spot around here and even tougher to approach without them scurrying into a crevice and away from my lens, but on the mooring…

 

The cool thing about finding a decent subject living on a mooring line is that they can’t travel far to escape my watchful gaze and I’ll know where to find them if I want to return. There is very little else for them to hide behind. I can plan my shots for a change, cool!

 

The other advantage of this scenario is the background. With a few shifts of my strobes I can illuminate the pretty bits, safe in the knowledge that I have a plain background that will hopefully isolate the subject making it ‘pop’ a bit more.