I love to get in close and explore the abstract patterns and symmetry in nature.Underwater there is always something pretty to shoot.

Mimic

I couldn't believe how small these little guys are when I first encountered them.But what Ribbon Eels lack in stature they more than make up for with attitude! They are almost as tricky to shoot as Clown Fish, with their incessant darting about.

There is a reason why sunsets are a bit of a cliche, and thats because they press all our aesthetic buttons.Sipping an Ice cold Bintang, and watching this fabulous and unique display every evening, was one of the highlights of staying at Tasik Ria.

I couldn't see the expression on this fishermans face when I took the shot as it was very contrasty. It was only when I processed the shot that I realised he didnt seem best pleased with my shooting him.

It's quite weird really, divers will often quite happily let shrimps clean and poke about in their mouths, but imagine if we did the same with land based critters! Cockroach or grasshopper dentistry anyone?

rgpf

Hiding clown fish, taken on Canon 40D with 100mm macro lenses. Lembeh Straits

Wartya looking at

Trying to capture this little guy was great.

nudi snooted

This young Indonesian girl was busy catching small fish, and cleaning them down by the waters edge, without a care in the world, who needs a GameBoy?
Shortlisted!

I love the fractal patterns in nature, these feather star arms at the macro scale, echo the patterns we see all around us, from the very tiny seen here all the way up to the spiral shape of the galaxy we all live in, sorry got a bit hippy there!

First time I saw a pair of these I couldn't believe that nature could throw up such crazy colours.
Shortlisted!

I did some experimentation shooting shallow depth of field, available light, high ISO shots.This was taken of some coral that looked to me a bit like chopped mushrooms.

Lembeh Strait with good viz

I know they are a little cliched,but they can be quite a challenge, testing the camera focussing abilities to the max. I cant resist shooting them though and this is my personal favourite so far....
Shortlisted!

Sometimes the most mundane looking creatures can reward you.This is the interior of a sea urchin, and to me it looked very alien,if you saw it in a Sci-Fi movie you would be impressed that someone had even imagined it!
Shortlisted!

Only its mother would love it !!!!

Whip Gobies are almost as popular a subject as Clown Fish, and equally skittish. I had never had a successful shot until going to Indonesia, where they are in abundance on most whips, and a little more chilled out it seems!

Canon 7D, 100mm Macro, Ikelite Housing. This Lizard Fish was happy for me to get close enough with the 100mm lens, to catch his portrait. I took a few different compositions, but this was my favourite.

Cuttlefish eye

I wanted to highlight this little creatures breathing apparatus, so positioned myself to show its delicate gills against an ink black background.

Shelly was looking for me as I had surfaced to one side of her, trying to get her attention was difficult as she had her head under the water, so only one thing to do, take a shot.

Had an SLR with a macro lens in housing, Canon 7D 100mm Macro Ikelite.
As I popped up at 50bar(ish) was rewarded with this scene on the shore straight out of the pages of Nat Geo, couldn't believe my luck.
Shortlisted!

nikon d2x 105mm micro

A Nudibrach on one of the lovely walls in Gorontalo. How do you rotate or remove these entries this was not how it was saved?