Red Eye
Green eyes – the water is green, grey. Does that mean the green eye pigment helps? The only reason you see the color I show in my pictures is because the strobe has compensated for the lack of red color underwater. It returns daylight colors to the otherwise green looking see. And then there is the matter of “red eye.” Light reflects off the retina of people and produces “red eye.” You knew that, right? So here you see the red eye. It looks orange to me. And here you don’t. So, see, it works. I love it when science works!
This Trumps All … Before It
I finally got it…for now! This is my best ever! Look at the detail! I know you have no frame of reference and cannot possibly know how rare an opportunity…
Macro. Green eyed shrimp! If you live long enough you can do this! Too! But I often wonder. I can dive the Red Sea freely and often – for now. And on any given dive, this would never ever happen to me. So if you persist and luck is on your side, well, you too may find your unicorn. I have many. There are a couple shots still on my bucket list. Green eyed shrimp are shy! They are found when the light reflects off their eyes from my brilliant LED flashlight. And as soon as the light hits their eyes, they retreat. This poor shrimp did not get the memo that it is safer to stay out of the light… and he will be someone’s meal soon. But meanwhile it got a shot, then got closer, got another and another, and then my dive buddy signaled me that we had to go – now! Darn! (My language would be a lot more colorful!) But, he’s boss, we go, when he says. Safety! Remember? He was concerned about tide, current, and rip surges. But it only takes a single shot. I got it! Macro! Close. Yes! Close enough to “see the white of their eyes….” Well, green…. I like the quote attributed to the Revolutionary war leader… don’t shoot till… Hey, can you tell I’m pretty excited about getting this shot. Everything works against you. The odds! Yup. Right place right moment. Eureka! Yeah, I’m a happy camper!
Green Eyes
Green eyed dancing shrimp. Hard to photograph. Yup. It’s a fact. Everyone loves to eat shrimp and they seem to know this. So they hide all day and come out only at night and even then they hide under the coral. Their eyes reflect your flashlight. So it’s easy to find them. They are small. And so the auto focus on my camera hunts. It does not often deliver the desired results. So when it happens, that is bliss. Wow. Perfect. He stayed around for me to get his picture. There were many shrimp this night. But this was the guy who made my night and my album. Details. Everything has to come together just so. And if not, then there is a blank space waiting to be filled when I finally find the right subject.
Green Eyed Dancing Shrimp
This is a shrimp that is associated with the urchins common to our reef. Urchins come out at night. And so, too, the shrimp appear. This guy was out during the day. Brave fellow. People like to eat shrimp. I suppose other fish do too. Getting the shot was hell. The shrimp stays in shadow and moves if you pay it any attention. So to get in close is not too practical. And to get the light in the hole is pretty challenging too. I will add that it is very tiny. Not even a morsel for the cocktail sauce. So it’s all the more amazing I got a shot. You’d understand too, if you knew how I had to stand on my head to get this shot.
It’s tiny. How tiny? The best way to find them it to see the reflection of their eyes from the flashlight. When they see the light they flee. Aha! Some guys use a red light. It helps. Me, I just use luck. It’s lucky we have anything to post for you to see. I’m lucky.
photobackstory 