Fishy photo may net award
Fishy photo may net award
The photo – taken while Alex was diving off the Poor Knights Islands – is a finalist in the wildlife category of the New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year competition.
Alex, a photographer with Auckland Forensic Imaging Unit, took the picture while diving at Cave Bay on the ocean side of the islands – “the next stop was pretty much South America”.
He says he had swapped his wide-angle lens for a macro lens but was struggling to find any suitable subjects until he spotted the large moon jellyfish, with the fish – possibly a juvenile cod - in attendance.
On the way back up he found another of the jellyfish – with another juvenile fish – near the surface. Some fish species are known to hide among the stinging tentacles of jellyfish to avoid predators.
Alex was using a Nikon D200 camera with a 60mm macro lens and Ikelite strobe kit.
New Zealand Geographic observes that the Poor Knights Islands enjoy an unusual mix of temperate and sub-tropical marine species because of their position close to the East Auckland current, which has its origins in the tropics.
Twenty-nine finalists were announced from more than 5800 entries in five categories: society and culture, wildlife, landscape, photo story and timelapse.
Winners will be announced in October. In the meantime, you can vote for Alex's image in a sixth 'people's choice' category - click here to see all the finalists and vote for your favourites.
The finalists’ photographs can also be seen at 122 Manchester Street, Christchurch, until 6 September; then Karanga Plaza, Auckland, next to the Viaduct Events Centre, from 3 October to 1 November.