AN UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER’S GUIDE TO RAJA AMPAT
Tips and Techniques
NOVICE
PYGMY SEAHORSES:
An overlooked part of what makes a pygmy shot
great is the sea fan that they live on. If the fan
or the pygmy is molested, the polyps will close
and the image will be left with a boring negative
space. Watch your strobes and use a longer focal
length lens to get more working distance. Use
manual focus and move the camera in and out
to achieve focus, as autofocus generally requires
the use of a focus light at high magnifications and
these will cause the pygmy to move away. If you
are new to super-macro photography, it’s better
to stay back a bit and crop rather than injuring
these delicate creatures.
MANTA RAYS:
If mantas are comfortable and don’t feel chased
or threatened, they will generally hang around
and tolerate photographers. Most manta
encounters in Raja Ampat occur at cleaning
stations, but if divers are on the cleaning station,
the mantas will leave. The trick is to find a spot
close by, choos