Hippocampus

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Hippocampus
Photo Information
Copyright: Alain Thibodeau (Athila) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 310 W: 238 N: 421] (1503)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 1986
Categories: Fish
Camera: Nikkormat EL & Ikelite housing, Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/3.5, Ektachrome
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Exotic marine life, Fishes from around the world, Underwater World #2, Underwater Wonder World 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-06-14 10:06
Viewed: 2034
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
THE SEAHORSE

Seahorses are marine fish belonging to the genus Hippocampus of the family Syngnathidae. They are found in temperate and tropical waters all over the world.

Seahorses range in size from 16 mm (the recently discovered Hippocampus denise [1]) to 35 cm. They are notable for being the only species where the males get pregnant.

The seahorse is a true fish, with a dorsal fin located on the lower body and pectoral fins located on the head near their gills. Some species of seahorse are partly transparent, hence are often not spotted in aquariums despite being there and are also not often seen in pictures.

Seahorse populations have been endangered in recent years by overfishing. The seahorse is used in traditional Chinese herbology, and as many as 20 million seahorses may be caught each year and sold for this purpose. [2]

Import and export of seahorses is controlled under CITES since May 15, 2004.

Sea dragons are close relatives of seahorses but have bigger bodies and leaf-like appendages which enable them to hide among floating seaweed or kelp beds. Sea dragons feed on larval fishes and amphipods, such as small shrimp-like crustaceans called mysids ("sea lice"), sucking up their prey with their small mouths. Many of these amphipods feed on red algae that thrives in the shade of the kelp forests where the sea dragons live.

Note: I took this picture in shallow waters (about 5 meters deep) and there was a lot of surge underwater. That little sea horse (about 10 cm high) had a hard time to swim so it was hanging to coral as much as possible. Photography conditions weren’t very good, the surge did affect me also and I couldn’t hang to coral (one hand for the camera and one hand for the flash) and there was a lot of suspended sand in the water. But I finally made a descent picture of it. A lower POV would have look better, but I couldn’t dig in the ground to get it.

More info on link below.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_horse

Technical data:

Camera : Nikkormat EL
Accessory-1 : Ikelite camera housing with flat port
Lens : 55mm f :3.5 Micro-Nikkor
F/stop : Not recorded
Shutter speed : Not recorded
Flash : Vivitar 285
Accessory-2 : Ikelite flash housing
Film : Ektachrome 64
Flatbed Scanner: Epson 4180
Signal-Womb, valy67, scottevers7, Luce, Glint, glazzaro, cecilia, TAZ, marhowie, dew77, thor68, aido, loot, Nico, Alex99, Luc has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Luc: Salutation amicaleAthila 2 07-03 23:01
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Critiques [Translate]

Aren't these tiny creatures just wonderful Alain. Every time I see one (in a tank)I am amazing and puzzled as to why they evolved this way. The fact that you captured this in the ocean is just great. You have done a very fine job here. Great details and nice composition on this. Well done.

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1318 W: 52 N: 1782] (5274)
  • [2006-06-14 13:07]

Bonjour Alain !
Cet hippocampe est tout simplement magnifique ! Les détails et la netteté sont excellents, et les couleurs sont très jolies, naturelles et harmonieuses. Une très belle composition, avec tous ces coraux autour de l'hippocampe. Bien joué !
Valérie.

Hi Alain,
A truely excellent shot on this seahorse. The exposure was superbly fill flashed. The colors are very beautiful. Sharp intricate detail. A real 3D feel to this shot. Amazing creatures to watch. I love how they grab and hold themselves to the coral with their tails.
Scott

  • Great 
  • Luce Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 80 W: 0 N: 15] (58)
  • [2006-06-14 13:47]

Bonjour Alain!

Ces petits chevaux de mer sont un plaisir à regarder. Dans cette image il semble tout timide. La netteté est impressionnante avec beaucoup de détail dans l'animal aussi bien que dans les coraux. Les ombres comme les hautes lumières sont bien détaillées. Bravo pour cette belle image.

hello Alain,
one of my favourit craetures captured very well.
Bev

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3337 W: 144 N: 5637] (16707)
  • [2006-06-14 16:29]

Hi Alain, what a dear little creature. He is so cute hanging onto the coral there. I have seen some Seahorses in aquariums and their bodies are quite firm, not soft like this one.
Good to see, thank you,
Janice

Nice shot, like how it blends to the environment.

Greg

Great detail,clarity,and colour. excellent work and like your frameworks as well.
Superb shot...

Great shot of this seahorse. I think they are amazing looking oddball creatures. The texture of this one seems to blend in with coral pretty good even though the brick red color betrays it. Excellent clear shot. :)

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2395 W: 50 N: 3190] (10896)
  • [2006-06-15 2:29]

je suis content de voir un beau cliché fait par Alain. Votre belle vision du monde sous-marin me manquait ;-)
Compliments Alain t merci pour le partage.

Very great capture Alain.
Very well done. Congratulation.

Hi Alain,
Excellent flashwork, composition, color and sharp detail. These are one of the most interesting ocean creatures I think..
Luv the interesting POV..and it even seems to be giving ya the eye :)
Very well done!
See ya later..

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-06-15 9:53]

Hello Alain,
Wonderful capture.Details are crisp clear and razorsharp.POV,framing,colors and lighting are excellent.
TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1103 W: 173 N: 1227] (4038)
  • [2006-06-15 15:31]

Hi Alain,
Excellent capture of this beautiful creature. I agree with Steve, their evolution is quite puzzling but that's something I love about the natural world, so many different and diverse species. Great shot, beautiful detail and colours. Excellent work for an underwater shot and great work on the scan also. Beautiful.
Regards,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • thor68 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 718 W: 117 N: 1032] (4567)
  • [2006-06-16 10:40]

beautiful underwater-shot of an amazing animal, alain! :-)
excellent composition and pose hanging on to the coral
with its tail.
wonderful sharp details and colors.
well done & take care, thor.

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5633 W: 594 N: 3201] (8695)
  • [2006-06-16 18:05]
  • [2]

Hi Alain
Pure magic. This sea horse and the corral is so sharp and clear and there is absolutely no evidence that this is taken inside the water. Even the shade caused by the fill-in flash seems to be from a normal dry type scenario.
Very well done on composition, colour, amazing details, and perfect exposure.
Good work and TFS.
Regards
Loot

  • Great 
  • Nico Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 1 N: 332] (1313)
  • [2006-06-19 9:18]

Splendid shot. Great detail and good compo. You share with us a rare and beautiful world. Thanks.

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2935 W: 142 N: 4217] (13775)
  • [2006-06-20 4:45]

Hi Alain.
What a brilliant and artistic introduction into the world of sea zoology. Excellent colours and sharpness of the whole picture. The smallest details and very balanced com-position. Very pleasant for look. Perfectly done.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 316 N: 4403] (14709)
  • [2006-06-30 0:42]
  • [+]

Magnifique Hippocampe, Alain.

Il semble que tu as beaucoup joué dans l'eau dans les années 80, au siècle dernier...

Ne t'en fais pas trop pour ta photo (Gaspé) disparue. Je crois qu'Adam et Robert n'ont pas le temps de "bâdrer" avec cela... et tu peux toujours la poster de nouveau, si tu le désires.
J'utilise rârement le piton 'Report Problem', seulement lorsque je vois un chat, un chien et autres animaux de compagnie. Je ne crois pas qu'on puisse apprivoiser de la brûme...
Bonne fin de semaine, bon été itou!

Hi Alain,
Amazing capture! Perfect lighting and exposure, very sharp and clear details.
Very well done!

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1265 W: 103 N: 4302] (19435)
  • [2006-08-11 18:02]

Très bien réussie encore, c'est clair et bien défini. Bravo !

Mario

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