Category Archives: Fish of OKinawa

The Art of Underwater Wide-Angle Photography – Tokina 10-17mm fisheye

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I started shooting with the Tokina AT-X 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 DXA back in 2012.  It is the most popular fisheye lens used for wide-angle underwater photography. It is also known for its close focusing capabilities underwater and on land. The lens is a high-quality product built for professionals working in the field. The Tokina 10-17mm Fisheye is my favorite lens in my bag and has been my go-to lens for the project “Crabs with Beach Trash Homes“

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If you plan on using the fisheye lens underwater, you will need an underwater housing. I currently use the Nauticam Na-D500 with the 100mm Zen dome port (Dp-100-N120T).

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If you want to use the zoom function underwater, you must attach a zoom ring (P#19127) to the lens. The Nauticam zoom ring installation process is relatively easy.

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Below are some of my favorite underwater photographs taken with the Tokina AT-X 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 DXA combined with my older Ikelite underwater setup. I mainly focus on macro photography, but I will be pushing myself to shoot more wide-angle this year. 

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Striped surgeonfish on the move (Rear curtain sync)

Ctenochaetus striatus on the move

Masked bannerfish on the move ( RCS )

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Okinawa is best known for its beautiful beaches and seascapes. All photographs were taken with the Tokina AT-X 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 DXA.

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18237824403_2e1c1ab075_zLearn more about my favorite lens @ Tokinalens.com

I want to thank Tokina, Light & Motion, Nightsea, and Black Fin Grouper for all their continuous support over the years.

Have a great day!

Cryptic fish, Comets and Stars by Shawn Miller

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The Comet (Calloplesiops altivelis) is a type of marine betta found in the beautiful waters of Okinawa. They hide in caves during the day. At night they come out to feed on small crustaceans. They are a mysterious fish and can be challenging to photograph. Comets are uncommon, yet very little is know about the behavior of these cryptic animals.

  • Scientific name:  Calloplesiops altivelis
  • Common Name: Comet (Marine betta)
  • Distribution:  Ryukyu Islands
  • Habitat: submarine caves
  • Diet:  crustaceans and fish
  • Average Size:  20cm 
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Calloplesiops altivelis © Shawn Miller

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Calloplesiops altivelis © Shawn Miller

Look close, can see the resemblance between the comet and the spotted moray eel?

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Gymnothorax meleagris © Shawn Miller

When threatened the comet will stick its head into a hole and expose its tail end, which mimics the head of the a dangerous moray eel.  The caudal fin also has detailed white lines that resemble the razor sharp teeth. 

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Calloplesiops altivelis © Shawn Miller

Having trouble getting close to marine life during your night dives? I recommend using the Light & Motion Sola 1200 red light feature. This feature enables the user to photograph marine life during the night without disturbing them. Most marine animals do not see the color red or react less to the red light.

Underwater setup with sola 600

Underwater setup with sola 600

 

 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.

 

Testing the Nauticam NA-D500 Underwater housing

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It’s been a blast shooting with the Nikon D500 DSLR combined with the Nauticam Na-D500 housing. I am pleased with the superior quality and design of the entire system. My underwater rig is setup for shooting macro with two Sea & Sea YS-D2 strobes and a variety of Sola lights.  I customized it slightly by mounting a Light & Motion Sola compact tray and loc-line arm kit to the bottom of the housing. This allows me to easily attach other Sola lights underwater based on my vision.

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Nauticam NA-D500 shower

My favorite features of the Nauticam NA-500 Underwater housing 

  • Internal camera lock-to prevent movement
  • Vacuum and leak detection system, Green is good!
  • Port lock system and audible housing lock latches
  • Super responsive optic flash system
  • Comfortable hand grips

I tested the Nikon D500 system with the Nikon AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED lens and the Nikon AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G lens.  Both are responsive and quality pieces of glass. The great news is that they 40mm is compatible in the NAU-18701 port as well.

Below are my favorite fourteen photographs taken with the D500 underwater in the beautiful waters of Okinawa.

Bobtail Squid - D500|40mm

Bobtail Squid – D500|40mm

Hermit crab - D500|40mm

Hermit crab – D500|40mm

Reef squid D500|60mm

Reef squid D500|60mm

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Nudibranch D500|40mm

Chromodoris hintuanensis

Chromodoris hintuanensis D500|60mm

Painpot cuttle fish okinawa

Paintpot cuttlefish D500|60mm

Dinahs Goby D500|60mm

Dinahs Goby D500|60mm

Flatworm D500|60mm

Flatworm D500|60mm

eyes of blue

Ryukyu Eyes D500|40mm

Pontoh's Pygmy Seahorse D500|60mm

Pontoh’s Pygmy Seahorse D500|60mm

Fluorescence Nikon| 60mm

Fluorescence Nikon| 60mm

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Bobtail squid D500|60mm

Bobtail squid D500|60mm

Eyes of Okinawa D500 | 60mm

Eyes of Okinawa D500 | 60mm

If your planning on buying a Nauticam underwater housing online, I recommend Bluewater Photo, they are extremely knowledgable and have outstanding customer service.

I want to thank Black Fin Grouper, Light & Motion and Nightsea for all their continuous support over the years. Thank you!

Get Fa-Millerized with the Nature of the Ryukyu Islands    – – –  SUBSCRIBE BELOW

The Eyes of the Underwater World by Shawn Miller

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Okinawa offers some of the best Scuba-diving in the world. I really enjoy the art of underwater macro photography.  Macro subjects can always be found, it just takes some imagination and good framing to create beautiful underwater abstracts. Animal eyes are challenging and exciting areas to focus on. Below are some of my favorite photographs of vision taken on the Island of Okinawa.

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Longsnout flathead © Shawn Miller

 

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Crowned puffer © Shawn Miller

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Leopard flounder © Shawn Miller

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Reef squid © Shawn Miller

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© Shawn Miller

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Coral scallop © Shawn Miller

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Crowned puffer-fish © Shawn Miller

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Pufferfish © Shawn Miller

Hawk fish © Shawn Miller

Hawk fish © Shawn Miller

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Stareye parrotfish © Shawn Miller

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Broadband cuttlefish © Shawn Miller

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Crowned puffer © Shawn Miller

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Fire fish © Shawn Miller

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Hawkfish © Shawn Miller

Get Fa-Millerized with the Nature of the Ryukyu Islands  – – – –  SUBSCRIBE BELOW

Parasitic Isopods of the Ryukyu Islands

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Scorpionfish, lionfish and stonefish all belong to the family Scorpaenidae. They all are well camouflaged and highly venomous. Their defensive spines can deliver a painful sting. It’s best to wear exposure protection and maintain good bouncy control to avoid getting envenomated by these ambush predators.

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In the 1980’s Robert Bolland stumbled upon an interesting underwater find. He found a tiny undescribed isopod hitching a ride on a scorpionfish. 1984 the parasitic isopod Renocila bollandi from Okinawa was named after him.

Renocila bollandi from

Over the years I photographed a dozen of these orange Isopods (Renocilla bollandi)

I have always wondered,

  • What is the relationship between the two?
  • Is the relationship mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism?
  • Why does the isopod only prefer venomous fish (scorpionfish) as its host?
  • Why does the isopod always stay close to the eye?

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Scorpionfish Okinawa

Scorpaenopsis diabolus scorpionfish

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See why they call it the bearded scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis cirrhosa).

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Learn more about the hazardous marine life of Okinawa.

Learn more about Robert Bolland and his research at The Okinawa Slug Site.

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

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Get Fa-Millerized with the Nature of the Ryukyu Islands  – – – –  SUBSCRIBE BELOW

Parasitic slugs of Okinawa

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Gymnodoris nigricolor Is a tiny nudibranch that attaches to the fins of gobies. It is found in the winter months and then it seems to completely disappear when the water warms up. This nudibranch is by far the hardest to photograph because of its size and it stays attached to it’s host. When the goby feels threatened, it retreats into its burrow taking the tiny slug down the hole with it.

In order to photograph sand-dwelling gobies you will generally need a 50mm-100mm macro lens.

IMG_0512Be patience and move slowly. If your lucky the goby will accept your presence without retreating.

IMG_0540February 2018, I was fortunate to find Gymnodoris nigricolor crawling on the sand in search of a host

IMG_0412When the slug finds a host it will attach onto the closest fin.

IMG_0423Look close and you can see the buccal apparatus of the slug clamping down.

27429475356_4380fdabcb_bOnce its locked down, the goby cannot shake the slug off.

14474545362_6904d1dc25_b(1) No one really knows what happens next. Why does the nudibranch attach to the fins of its host？ Does this specialist feed on only the fins of gobies or is there another reason？

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If you would like see stunning photographs of more sea slugs check out my post on nudibranchs

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

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

The Fastest Fish Jaws on the Planet by Shawn Miller

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The Sling-jaw wrasse is my favorite fish to observe underwater. The large wrasse is fairly common in the beautiful waters of Okinawa. It primarily swims using its pectoral fins, similar to the way a bird uses its wings. It can be seen at all of the popular snorkeling and diving locations on Okinawa.

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  • Scientific name:   Epibulus insidiator
  • Common Name: Sling-jaw wrasse
  • Distribution:  Indo-Pacific
  • Habitat: Coral reefs
  • Diet:  Small fish, crabs, and shrimp
  • Average Size:  29cm 
  • Threats: Habitat loss and overfishing

The Sling-jaw wrasse looks very strange when viewed head-on. It has the ability to rotate its eyes 360 degrees.

DSC_8028 The sling-jaw wrasse looks like a pretty average fish from its side but has a hidden ability. DSC_8044The Sling-jaw wrasse has the ability to protrude its jaw longer than any other fish in the ocean. Its jaw is used to extend its reach and suck in prey. The scientific term for this is known as jaw protusion. DSC_8045It uses suction feeding to catch small animals in tight cracks and crevices on the reef.

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To increase its chances of catching prey the wrasse will team up with other fish and the octopus. It’s pretty amazing to watch this team hunting take place. The scientific term for this is known as nuclear hunting.

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Sometimes a still photograph just can’t capture the behavior taking place. In order to really appreciate this animal behavior, it must be seen in the wild. Nuclear hunting at Maeda point.

Hundreds of fish washed ashore after Typhoon trami. This mature wrasse could not cope with the devastating power of Typhoon trami.

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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. 

If you would like to use any of my photographs, please contact me directly.

Have a great day!