Lens Of the SEA
Photo courtesy of Kru’Mai, (taken during my certification test)Marine PHOTOGRAPHy BY
Dena Chawaldit
During the pandemic, I picked up scuba diving as a hobby. After getting to meet seasoned divers, I was introduced to macro photography. I instantly got hooked on using my camera to capture these one-of-a-kind encounters with such magnificent creatures I never thought I'd see in the wild. Since then, this journey has brought me to different corners of the world and allowed me to meet people with the same passion. Most of my photos were taken with an Olympus Tg-6. In adjunct, I connected a Weefine Ring light 3000 and the Weefine Smart Focus 3500 video light lamp for optimal lighting and saturation. It is important to note that since I specialize in Macrophotography, most wide-angle shots, such as of sharks, utilize just the camera on its own without the assistance of artificial lighting, hence its particular hue. ChonrichThye
Chondrichthyes is a class of cartilaginous fish that includes sharks, rays, and chimaeras. These fish are characterized by having skeletons made of cartilage rather than bone and include a wide range of species found in oceans worldwide. They are known for their diverse shapes and behaviors, with some species being top predators in marine ecosystems.
Many species within the Chondrichthyes class are facing various levels of threat and vulnerability due to significant population declines. Some species of sharks, like the great white shark and the hammerhead shark, are considered vulnerable or endangered due to overfishing for their fins and meat. Conservation efforts, such as fishing regulations and marine protected areas, aim to mitigate these threats and protect these species.
Crustaceans
Crustaceans are a diverse group of arthropods known for their hard exoskeletons and jointed appendages, which include crabs, lobsters, and shrimp.
Nudibranchs
Nudibranchs are captivating marine mollusks, often less than 5 cm in size, known for their stunning and vibrant colors. They lack a protective shell, displaying their delicate, exposed gills and tentacles. These charismatic creatures are renowned for their intricate patterns and are found in diverse ocean ecosystems, adding to the beauty of underwater life.
Syngnathidae
Syngnathidae is a family of fish known for their unique appearance, with elongated bodies, prehensile tails, and the males carrying and protecting the eggs in specialized brood pouches. This family includes seahorses, pipefish, and seadragons, which are slow-swimming, carnivorous species found in marine and freshwater habitats worldwide. They are of interest in both marine biology and the aquarium trade, facing conservation challenges due to habitat destruction and overexploitation.
Tetraodontiformes
Tetraodontiformes is an order of fish known for their distinctive, often boxy or globular shape. This group includes species like pufferfish, triggerfish, and boxfish. Many of these fish have unique defensive adaptations, such as inflating their bodies or having tough external armor. Tetraodontiformes are found in tropical and temperate oceans and are known for their intriguing behaviors and appearances.
