False Clown Anemonefish 23

    Indonesia, Papua, Raja Ampat, Misool Island, False clown anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris)

    I left the Misool Ecoresort in Indonesia 3 weeks ago today, but it still feels like it was just yesterday. It was probably my favorite photography trip that I have ever done and I can not wait to return. I’ll likely lead a photo tour there in the fall of 2012. I am only about 1/3 of the way through editing my images, but I already have a few favorites. Take this comical picture of a juvenile clown anemonefish. I spent a lot of time photographing these aggressive little fish during 2 weeks of scuba-diving. They constantly darted around, hiding in the anemone’s tentacles, but every once in a while I photographed a perfect moment where the fish had clear eye contact with the camera. Unfortunately, I could not do much about it’s “frowning” face, but hopefully it contributes to the humor of this image. I looked for patterns of consistent form and texture of the tentacles and waited until the fish swam into the most aesthetically pleasing sections. Also, I was surprised to learn that this type of clownfish, which most people recognize from the movie Finding Nemo, is actually called a false clown anemonefish. A true clown anemonefish has more pronounced black bars on it’s body. I created this image using my Canon 5DmkII and 100mm f2.8 macro lens in my Ikelite 5DmkII housing with dual Ikelite DS160 strobes set on TTL. This image required minimal processing using Aperture 3 and Photoshop CS5.

    I post my images for the enjoyment of the Flickr community, but please do not use my images in any way without my permission. Please respect my copyright.

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    Comments and faves

    1. ★

      Joalhi "Back in Miami", www.matthansenphotography.com, Raymond Larose, falenafoto, and 119 other people added this photo to their favorites.

    2. Joalhi "Back in Miami" (26 months ago | reply)

      Colorful and beautiful!

    3. www.matthansenphotography.com (26 months ago | reply)

      I like the magenta tips...nice one

    4. Raymond Larose (26 months ago | reply)

      Nicely done!!!

    5. falenafoto (26 months ago | reply)

      sublime ciao

    6. Jim Patterson Photography (26 months ago | reply)

      Great moment, Jon. I know the patience this image requires!

    7. antonikon (26 months ago | reply)

      Wonderful picture !

    8. www.Northwaveimages.com (26 months ago | reply)

      Great shot

    9. Cornforth Images (26 months ago | reply)

      Thanks all for taking a look at my latest image. I had a fantastic trip to Indonesia & can't wait to go back in the near future. Hopefully, the clownfish story that I have out with an agent will get picked by the UK papers in the next week like my humpback whale article did!

    10. JaveFoto (26 months ago | reply)

      This is super cool man, nice work. Jave

    11. Saguaro Pictures (26 months ago | reply)

      Wow, great shot Jon! The colors and lighting are beautiful! And the composition with the fish looking at you is perfect.

    12. Leentje36 (26 months ago | reply)

      Impressive and so so beautiful!

    13. carlosmolinaphoto (26 months ago | reply)

      Gorgeous image, Jon. Finally found Nemo! Thanks!

    14. NikonDigifan (26 months ago | reply)

      These colors are great nicely done.

    15. celta4 (26 months ago | reply)

      Wow!

    16. ssabin (26 months ago | reply)

      Excellent underwater shot

    17. max vuong (26 months ago | reply)

      Love the disgruntled expression!

    18. Stef Olcen (26 months ago | reply)

      Great NEMO Pic! I LIke it and so do my kids. Salamat Datang! I loved Indonesia back in 94'!!!

    19. Alberto Mattiussi Photography (26 months ago | reply)

      Awesome!

    20. Cornforth Images (26 months ago | reply)

      This is a long way from the desert. Heck this location is a long way from everywhere in North America!

      Indonesia is awesome. Went there with my wife for the 1st time in 2000. Can't wait to go back in the next year again!

    21. Wandering Sagebrush (26 months ago | reply)

      Jon, very nice photography! BTW, nice article on landscape in PP!

    22. Cornforth Images (26 months ago | reply)

      Cool! You saw my hiking for landscape photography article in Pop Photo? I am so happy to hear that it is out now!

    23. lcheider (26 months ago | reply)

      Great pic!

    24. idashum (26 months ago | reply)

      Absolutely brilliant shot - love all the vibrant colors with the clown fish!
      --
      Seen in my contacts' photos. ( ?² )

    25. Steph Sawyer Photography (will catch up slowly) (26 months ago | reply)

      what color you got in this! Used to have one of these guys in a salt water tank!

    26. j_omohundro (26 months ago | reply)

      WOW....superb....the little dude is looking right at you. Nicely done, Jon!

    27. l.gallier (26 months ago | reply)

      Stunning colors John!!! What a delight to see all your incredible work here and on FB. Thanks for sharing!

    28. Cornforth Images (26 months ago | reply)

      Thank you!

      If I were ever home long enough to take care of a tank, I'd consider investing in a couple of aquarium bread clownfish. I read that they aren't as aggressive as the wild ones.

      It's all about the eye contact! I always try to engage wild animals so the viewer knows that they are looking at them.

      I do my best to share my work online. Thanks for appreciating my efforts!

    29. Gabriele Lima (26 months ago | reply)

      Magnificent!

    30. HLazyJ - Susan Humphrey (26 months ago | reply)

      Stunning! Love this shot.

    31. Michelle Dion ~ (26 months ago | reply)

      The colors are incredible!

    32. Jared Ropelato (26 months ago | reply)

      on another level man. This shot is so good. candy for the eyes for sure.

    33. scubaluna (26 months ago | reply)

      very nice colors, great shot

      Seen in FiNS Magazine Group

    34. Prankur Sharma (26 months ago | reply)

      lovely colours!!gr8 pic overall

    35. DavidFrutos (26 months ago | reply)

      Really good comp.
      Lovely capture, Jon.

    36. Kerstin Rüttgerodt - busy (26 months ago | reply)

      wow - thos colours are breathtaking! Great!

    37. smiles7 (26 months ago | reply)

      Most superb.

    38. Seaglass addict (26 months ago | reply)

      I am so happy that we will be seeing your great photos very soon. I am sure you do have quite a few favorites. Love your PHOTOSTREAM

    39. monilague (26 months ago | reply)

      Super.

      [ via monilague's contacts on flickriver  --monilague ]

    40. ImageInnovation Photography (26 months ago | reply)

      This is such a superb shot. Love the colors.

    41. Marco Paravella (26 months ago | reply)

      Thanks for sharing your wonderful
      photo for all to see.

      PLANET EARTH UNDERWATER

    42. Sunrise@dawn 風傳影像 (26 months ago | reply)

      TOP-NOTCH INDEED!!!!! MY COMPLIMENTS!!!!!!!
      ♥♪♥¸.•*´¨´¨*•.¸ ♥♪♥♥♪♥¸.•*´¨´¨*•.¸♥♪♥♥♪♥¸.•*´¨´¨*•
      Greetings from Taiwan 台灣!!!

      Have a great week! :) 祝心想事成，平安喜樂！

    43. Brian/Jane (26 months ago | reply)

      Beautiful Capture Lovely Detail

    44. Kia & Zeno {slowly catching up} (26 months ago | reply)

      Absolutely magnificent!

    45. Dan Sherman (25 months ago | reply)

      So perfect.

    46. [Adam Baker] (25 months ago | reply)

      Fantastic John!

    47. Cornforth Images (25 months ago | reply)

      If anyone is interested, I was working on this 2 weeks ago before I shared this image the other day. Pretty awesome!

      www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/pic turesoftheda...

    48. tropicaLiving - Jessy Eykendorp (25 months ago | reply)

      Wonderful colors and i like the sense of motion in this photo. I love it! Excellent work, Jon.

    49. Slavomir Dzieciatkowski (25 months ago | reply)

      This is a beauty!

    50. Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART (25 months ago | reply)

      Lots of great images here Sir Jon but this one is my fave of the series with the killer colors and COMP.

    51. Cornforth Images (25 months ago | reply)

      Thank you, very much, Art. You just signed up for Flickr? Hmm... Email me if you want my thoughts about what to expect & not from integrating Flickr into your social networking/marketing. jon@cornforthimages.com

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