Goby and commensal shrimp

[mark eaton]

My first submission. Shot in Bali.Comments please.

[Clay Coleman]

Hi Mark, and thanks for sharing this image. Very cool subjects and a nice depiction of them. I think the image could be improved in 2 ways: 1) get closer; and 2) instead of shooting from above, try getting a lower "eye-to-eye" angle of view. The shrimp is a bit indistinct. Still, a nice photo and thanks again for sharing it. -Clay

[Jonathan Bird]

I love these little guys! They are so much easier to document on video, where you can see the little shrimp moving the sand.

My advice would be to wait until the shrimp is a little more visible before shooting. It's hard to see behind its load of sand and its pointed right at the camera.

Jonathan

[Sealizard]

Wow, Mark - nice subjects.

I assume that's a variety of sailfin blennie - very colorful. Do you know if it has a particular name?

Tell us a little about the camera you're shooting with and the strobe set up. I agree that closer might make for a better shot, but you may be working within the limits of your camera. The lighting looks quite good.

What else did you bring back to share? :)

[mark eaton]

Thanks guys.

Clay, these gobies have radar, sonar and telepathic abilities and in my clumsy human underwater type way I struggle to get nearer than about 12 inches. The burrow was in a depression and the camera was on the sand. I have used many cylinders of air trying to get these little buggers in the frame. Any suggestions for underwater camouflage or a suitable underwater travel hide.

Sealizard, I am using an Olympus CW8080 in an olympus housing and a single Inon D2000 strobe with fibre optic link. Glad you liked it think I can find a few more.

It may be a little indistinct in this low quality JPEG but I love the contact of antennae and fin between the two.