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Underwater Fireworks
Coral reproduction, Red Sea, 2023
Category - Ocean
Exposing the enigmatic world of coral reproduction reveals a fascinating show of life beneath the waves. Like clockwork, thousands of corals spanning hundreds of kilometers synchronize their efforts, releasing egg-andsperm bundles into the open sea. Yet capturing this mesmerizing phenomenon is no small feat, demanding precision and patience as it unfolds fleetingly, occurring once a year, on a specific night of a particular month, and within a narrow time window of mere minutes. This captivating image stands as a testament to an ongoing scientific-documentary journey, where the vibrant nightlife and intricate reproductive rituals of corals and other reef dwellers in the northern Red Sea unfold. Immersing myself in this ambitious project, I dedicated over 300 nights to unveiling the secrets of the coral reef’s major reproduction season. This journey is not just about capturing the beauty of the underwater world; it is a scientific endeavor aimed at building a comprehensive calendar of corals and coral-reef inhabitants’ reproduction. The use of a slow shutter speed transforms coral spawning into a display akin to an underwater fireworks show as new life emerges.
12 mm f/2.8 Lens - 1/5 sec at f/18 ISO 200