Fluoro-diving in Okinawa, Japan -Underwater Fluorescence by Shawn Miller

The Light & Motion Sola NightSea blue light will enhance your night diving experience like nothing before. It Is an underwater blue light that allows you to see fluorescence. The NightSea blue LEDs cause proteins and minerals to fluoresce brightly underwater. If you want to photograph fluorescence you will need a yellow barrier filter over your camera lens. The barrier filter will block the reflected excitation of light and transmit the fluorescence to deliver a psychedelic experience.

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Underwater fluorescence by Shawn Miller

Below is a photograph of my underwater rig. This is the setup I use to capture the underwater fluorescence in Okinawa. I am currently using one Light & Motion Sola Nightsea and one GoBe nightsea blue light.

Dive Team Miller- Underwater rig

Dive Team Miller- Underwater rig © Shawn Miller

Below is a photograph of the Light & Motion Sola NightSea Underwater blue light photographed in the studio. I wanted to capture the blue light rays coming out of the light. No previous photos displayed this and I had to do it.

Sola NightSea underwater blue light

Light & Motion Sola NightSea underwater blue light © Shawn Miller

Some cases the fluorescence is so strong it can be photographed during the day without any specialized lights or filters. This red heart coral was photographed at a depth of Seventy-five feet.

Red Fluorescence -ambient light ,75feet

Red Fluorescence -ambient light, 75feet © Shawn Miller

In 2017, Some of my fluorescence enhancement photographs were published in Blue Planet 11.

Underwater fluorescence - Shawn Miller featured Blue planet 11

Underwater fluorescence – Shawn Miller featured Blue planet 11

Most of the marine life will fluoresce a beautiful green. I photographed this sea anemone in a submarine cave at Maeda Point, Okinawa.  (Nightdive)

Sea anemone (Dofleinia armata) Okinawa- Japan

Sea anemone (Dofleinia armata) Okinawa- Japan © Shawn Miller

Corals that fluoresce orange are much harder to find here in Okinawa. (Nightdive)

Lobophyllia hermprichii

Coral of the Ryukyu Islands – Lobophyllia hemprichii © Shawn Miller

Corals that fluoresce red are scarce in Okinawan waters. (Nightdive)

Bio fluorescense - Coral of Okinawa, Japan

Bio fluorescence – Coral of Okinawa, Japan© Shawn Miller

I decided to experiment using the nightsea and custom filters over my strobes to give it an original look. I call this technique fluoro blending.(Nightdive)

Anemone hermit crab (Dardanus pedunculatus)

Anemone hermit crab (Dardanus pedunculatus)© Shawn Miller

More fluoro blending using the nightsea and custom filters. (Nightdive)

Large mouth triplefin (Ucla xenogrammus) on coral

Large mouth triplefin (Ucla xenogrammus) on coral

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I had this eel in my aquarium for a long time and had no idea it fluoresced until I exposed it to the Sola NightSea light.

eels that fluoresce in okinawa

Eels that fluoresce in Okinawa – Gymnothorox sp © Shawn Miller

The NightSea also provides a beautiful background color to complement the marine subject. This technique is becoming very popular in Japan.(Nightdive)

firefish with nightsea backlit ,okinawa

Fire fish ( Pterois antennata) Back lit with the Sola Nightsea © Shawn Miller

Glowing hydroids were recently discovered in 2015 by marine researchers in the Red Sea. I photographed these fluorescing hydroids in Okinawa-Japan.

Vexillum exasperatum with glowing hydroids

Vexillum exasperatum with glowing hydroids © Shawn Miller

Niotha albescens with glowing hydroids

Niotha albescens with glowing hydroids © Shawn Miller

If you would like to know more about the Light & Motion Sola series visit.  https://www.lightandmotion.com/choose-your-light/sola

All underwater images were photographed using an Ikelite underwater housing. Check out my previous post on why I use an Ikelite Underwater housing.

Have a Psychedelic day!

 

Facing extinction – Ishikawa’s Frog (Odorrana ishikawae)

Ishikawa’s frog (Odorrana ishikawae) is the most beautiful frog found in Japan. It is only found in northern Okinawa and currently on the endangered species list. It is one of the many endemic species facing extinction due to habitat loss. Ishikawa’s frog is a designated living national treasure of Okinawa.

  • Scientific name: Odorrana ishikawae
  • Distribution:  Northern Okinawa-Japan
  • Habitat:  Forest streams 
  • Diet:  Insects, worms, and millipedes
  • Average Size:  90mm -120mm

This is my favorite frog on Okinawa. I have only seen about a dozen in the last three years.

shikawa's Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) Yanbaru forest ,Okinawa

Ishikawa’s Frog (Odorrana ishikawae)  Night dwelling in the Yanbaru forest © Shawn Miller

Ishikawa's Frog (Odorrana ishikawae)

Ishikawa’s Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) © Shawn Miller

They live around mountain streams in the Yanbaru forest. They hide in cracks and crevices in the rocks making it hard to photograph them at times.

Ishikawa's Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) Yanbaru forest ,Okinawa

Adult Ishikawa’s Frog (Odorrana ishikawae)   ” out of the den ” © Shawn Miller

They are also masters of camouflage. The unique pattern helps them blend into the moss and leaves on the riverside.

ishikawa's Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) Yanbaru forest ,Okinawa

Ishikawa’s Frog (Odorrana ishikawae)  © Shawn Miller

Ishikawa's frog

Juvenile Ishikawa’s frog © Shawn Miller

The Ishikawa’s frog was featured in Amphibian Love – an artbook for the frogs.  Artist Leah Jay created this book to show the beauty and fascinating variety of amphibians, and bring attention the the Amphibian Extinction Crisis.

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If you are lucky you might find a blue Ishikawa’s frog. The blue morph is absolutely beautiful.

Blue Ishikawa's Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) © Shawn Miller

Blue Ishikawa’s Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) © Shawn Miller

Blue Ishikawa's Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) © Shawn Miller

Blue Ishikawa’s Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) © Shawn Miller

Blue Ishikawa's  Frog (Odorrana ishikawae)

Blue Ishikawa’s Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) © Shawn Miller

A large blue and green morph.

Ishikawa frog blue morph

Ishikawa frog blue morph © Shawn Miller

Ishikawa's frog searching for a meal

Ishikawa’s frog searching for a meal © Shawn Miller

A juvenile Ishikawa’s frog searching for food.  (Wide angle perspective)

herpetologists dream come true - the find

herpetologists dream come true © Shawn Miller

Sometimes they can be seen crossing the road!

Ishikawa's Frog

Ishikawa’s Frog – Stella 2000 © Shawn Miller

Top view- Ishikawa's frog

Top view- Ishikawa’s frog © Shawn Miller

Be careful and pay close attention to crossing wildlife.

Ishikawas frog - Roadkill

Ishikawa’s frog – Roadkill © Shawn Miller

Ishikawa's Frog

Ishikawa’s Frog -Wide angle macro photography © Shawn Miller

People often ask me what is the purpose of conservation photography? Having the ability to affect some form of positive change in the environment and make a global difference with the photographs. Hopefully, the images will inspire people to care more about nature and make a positive difference in the environment.

 My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically  to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support.  Shawn M Miller.

Underwater Macro Photography with an Ikelite housing

I have always enjoyed shooting macro photography ever since I purchased my first camera. Underwater Macro photography is challenging due to currents, buoyancy control and back-scatter in the water. Below are a few underwater images photographed using the Canon 70D with a Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 USM macro lens. The Camera and lens are enclosed in an Ikelite underwater housing. I am currently using one Ikelite DS-160 strobe along with one Ikelite DS-200 underwater.

Crowned Puffer (Canthigaster coronata) Okinawa, Japan

Crowned Puffer (Canthigaster coronata) Okinawa, Japan © Shawn Miller

Razor coral - Fungia sp ,Okinawa-Japan

Razor coral – Fungia sp ,Okinawa-Japan © Shawn Miller

Bio fluorescense underwater

Bio fluorescense underwater (Fungis scutaria) © Shawn Miller

Honeycomb coral (Diploastrea heliopora) Okinawa- Japan

Honeycomb coral (Diploastrea heliopora) © Shawn Miller

Crocea Clam (Tridacna Crocea) Okinawa-Japan

Crocea Clam (Tridacna Crocea) © Shawn Miller

Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) Okinawa-Japan

Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) © Shawn Miller

If you are living In Okinawa-Japan and would like to purchase any Ikelite product, I highly recommend Ikelite Military Sales. You can contact them directly on Facebook with the link below. I usually receive my orders within five to seven days. This is very fast shipping living overseas.
If you are having trouble with the initial set up of your underwater system and need assistance contact me.
Stay tuned for more underwater images with the Canon 70d.