[UW Photo A219]

 

[UW Photo A218] Portrait of a Turtle

 

We encountered the courtship behavior of two hawksbill turtles at Navy Island, Trincomalee. We were just resting on the sandy bottom at a safe distance, observing this rare phenomenon. Sometimes you just need to enjoy the moment, since a camera cannot truly capture it. Interestingly, they didn’t care about our presence and kept coming closer and closer, giving me the opportunity to click this shot.

Honestly, I didn’t know how to photograph a turtle and couldn't think of a proper composition; this was just being opportunistic, as I had prepared with macro gear for an entirely different mission. The facial expression gives a portrait its uniqueness and significance. Does this face tell a story?

[UW Photo A217]

 

[UW Photo A216]

 

[UW Photo A214]

 

[UW Photo A213] The Yellow Frogfish

 

This is a Yellow Frogfish camouflaged among the surrounding sun corals. It cannot really swim but uses its pectoral fins to walk along the reef. It usually remains stationary for long periods. Because its ability to camouflage itself is so remarkable, it is not easy to spot underwater.

After many dives, I was lucky enough to capture this frogfish on a shallow reef in Trincomalee. I tried to blend the fish with the sun corals, creating a perfectly matching background.

(Special thank for dive master Rasalingkam Rajeenthan for help accomplish this)

[UW Photo A212]

 

I like to see how sunlight beaming inside a shipwreck through different openings giving it a surrealistic beauty, but within the mysterious feeling. This is captured while I was inside the MV Thermopylae Sierra, once of the most talk about wrecks near the coast of Colombo.

[UW Photo A211]

 

[UW Photo A210] Lionfish at Salviva wreck

Pick from Salviva ship Wreck of Colombo.

This is comparatively a small wreck of a modern Yacht now converted into a refuge for marine fauna, particularly with rich population of lionfish.

 

[UW Photo A209] Explosion

 While exploring Thermopylae Sierra shipwreck, among many beautiful artifacts and marine life, I saw some beauty in this, not so special, school of fishes. Perhaps it’s the angle I was shooting from. For me its bits and pieces spreading after an explosion.

[UW Photo A208]

 

[UW Photo A207]

 

[UW Photo A206]

 

Shipwrecks provide photographers a plethora of compositions to frame and present an image. One of my favourites is to frame the odd shapes of aqua among the corals within the remnants of the structure. This is one such attempt made recently at Pecheur Breton (Cargo Wreck) off the coast of Colombo.

[UW Photo A205]

 

[UW Photo A204]

 

[UW Photo A203]

 

[UW Photo A202]

When diving a shipwreck, we all have some degree of idea what kind of subjects to expect. This is completely a different photo taken in Orestes wreck, off the coast of Galle. The way soft corals are grown took my immediate attention and I started to admire the beauty within the arrangement and colours. I enjoy seeing and capturing these kinds of unique beauties.  

[UW Photo A201]

 

[UW Photo A200] Sea Cucumber

 

[UW Photo A199]

 

[UW Photo A198]

 

[UW Photo A197] The safe heaven

When predatory becomes the key factor of survival, where you hide for safety become paramount. Within a complex food web in coral reef in Trincomalee, this Gobi, seems to have made its choice quite clear. Is there any other place that would provide better protection than this tiny cavern covered by hard coral obstructing entry to anything bigger? What interests me is not just the hide, but the beautiful floral pattern of corals that is visually appealing.

[UW Photo A196] The Isolation

 

[UW Photo A195] Tree of stars

 Vibrant colours and rhythmic structures of corals open a wide window for creation of abstractions. I am fascinated and always looking for a room to frame such beauties. This was captured at Trincomalee during my recent shooting.