Typhoon Trami was by far the strongest storm of the year. The typhoon brought heavy winds, rain, and extreme sea conditions. A huge amount of marine life could not cope with these harsh conditions.
An abundance of marine debris also washed up. A disgusting amount of styrofoam, plastic bottle caps, water bottles, lighters, combs, razors, and floats littered the shorelines.
Marine debris
Environmental impact
Styrofoam pollution
I have been living on Okinawa for over twenty-five years and this was the first time seeing a devastating amount of marine life washed ashore. The storm was so powerful that large clumps of stony coral broke off and washed ashore.
Marine life and plastic pollution
Marine fish and plastic pollution
Pufferfish washed ashore
Red Grouper
Plastic wrapping
Parrot fish washed up
Eel and Styrofoam
Dead fish
fish and flops
Wrasses and plastic
Hermit crab and plastic
Pufferfish washed ashore
Coral washed ashore
I also managed to find some unique animals washed ashore. Five red frogfish, twelve sea snakes, a spiny seahorse and five unknown orange fish (Ogilibia sp).
Frogfish washed ashore
Sea snake washed up
Spiky seahorse
Starfish of Okinawa
Undescribed orange fish (Ogilbia sp).
If you would like to use any of my images please contact me directly. Have a great day!
For all that will be in Okinawa Sunday, October 28, 2018, visit the Corals Art Show & Fundraiser! This year is the International Year of the Reef, and that’s why the 3rd edition of Okinawa’s Art Show & Fundraiser (started by Julia Janicki) will be for CORALS!
Enjoy this great mix of art, artists and scientists, live music, nice beers, and a ‘touch table’ to play around with some real science. The auction of the art is until 5:30 PM, this is your chance to find some unique local artwork and donate to a good cause.
Flyer Design – Photos by Shawn Miller, Calligraphy and Illustration by Nicolas Baldwyn, Japanese Calligraphy by Tetsuhiro Hokama, Design by Mirijam Neve.
The Purpose – To educate others about these amazing creatures and the major threats they are facing. To donate some of the profits from the art pieces to conservation organizations (Conservation International to support their CTI)
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.
I will be offering five high-quality underwater fluorescence photographs printed on metal for the fundraiser. A percentage of the sales will be donated to coral conservation awareness.
Coral conservation fundraiser prints
The event was a huge success. Thank you all for your support. Here are a few photographs of the event.
Corals Art Show & Fundraiser
Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC
Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC
Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC
Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC
Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC
Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC
The science and education table for the adults and children by Maggi Mars.
Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC
Corals Art Show & Fundraiser @OBC
Live music by CJ & Friends. Thank you!
The band – CJ & Friends
A big thanks to all the artists and contributors. Mirijam Nerve, Sylvia Beauchain, and Julia Janicki did a great job organizing the art show and fundraiser. Have a great day!
As a photographer, there will be a time when you feel all your photographs look similar and you might lose interest for a while. Creating motion in still photographs will definitely give you a new challenge and purpose. The goal is to try to show some type of motion in a still photograph. The photographs emphasize the energy, power and or speed of the subject moving. Dramatic motion images will provide depth and variety to your portfolio.
Try panning or dragging the shutter
Move the camera in sync with the moving subject while the shutter stays open. Slow shutter speed will be necessary to achieve this.
Once you understand this technique try adding flash at the end of the exposure to freeze the motion of the subject.
Get creative and add a spin the camera
Motion + Photography = Motionography
Panning can be frustrating at times. Keep practicing and eventually, you will get a few selected photographs. Below are some of my favorite outdoor panning photographs.
Koi Art
Wings spread
Ryukyu Tigers
Birds in flight
Egret on the move
Swoosh
The landing! Black-faced spoonbill –
Golden light
Yanbaru forest
Splash -Maeda flats
If certain colors are distracting in your photographs try converting them to black & white. This can enhance the mood and sometimes make the photograph more dramatic.
Okinawa photographers
Ie Island Lilly festival
Surfs up
The strider
Most importantly have fun and get your friends and family involved in your projects!
Round and around
The Race @ Round1
Basketball
Araha beach race
Roller derby event
Beach excavation
Slow down
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.
Ghost crabs are one of the fastest terrestrial crabs on the planet. They live in burrows underneath the sand on the coastline. They are found scavenging for food early in the morning and late in the evening to avoid predators. These sand crabs can change colors to adapt to their environment. In Okinawa, we have two species of Ghost crabs, the Horn-eyed crab (Ocypode ceratophthalmus) and the Smooth-eyed ghost crab (Ocypode cordimanus).
Horn-eyed ghost crab at Maede flats
Ghost crabs have three ways to avoid predators.
Stay close to their burrow and retreat into it quickly.
Escape into the surf zone and burrow underneath the wet sand.
Stay still and slowly dig into the beach sand
Ghost crab burrow
Elusive ghost crab
These crabs have the ability to fold their eyes into grooves for protection.
Ghost crab & Stella 2000
This large ghost crab tried to intimidate me with its large claws and scary shadow.
The sand dwelling hunter
These crabs were photographed on white for the Meet Your Neighbours Biodiversity Project. The project is dedicated to connecting people worldwide with the wildlife in their communities. All images are used for conservation awareness and educational purposes.
MYN Biodiversity Project Japan.
Juvenile – Ocypode sp
The Juveniles can be extremely colorful depending on their surrounding environment. I have been finding more and more trash washed on the shoreline. Could the crabs possibly be adapting to the colors of the sounding marine debris washed ashore?
the Smooth-eyed ghost crab ( Ocypode cordimanus)
All ghost crabs are scavengers, mainly feeding on seaweed, fruit, seeds, other crabs, turtle hatchlings, and insects.
feeding on beetles
Feeding on a hermit crab
Feeding on a shrew
These crabs are beautiful creatures and hopefully, you will get the opportunity to see one in the wild.
Pink ghost crab
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 conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.
In 2014, I was bitten by a large huntsman spider (Heteropoda ventoria) in my apartment. It was completely my fault, I failed to check my clogs before putting them on. All spiders are venomous and I was fortunate not to have an allergic reaction to the bite.
Natural habitat
The Huntsman spider is the most common spider on Okinawa. It is often found in houses, workplaces, gardens, parks and sometimes inside vehicles. They are fast moving and are capable of jumping at fast speeds.
Spiders have tiny hairs called setules. These hairs allow the spider to cling to slippery surfaces and vehicles traveling at high speeds. You can’t shake this spider!
Spider on the windshield
I have heard stories of them being as big as a basketball, but these were all just exaggerations from people terrified of spiders. The largest specimens get about fist size.
Large huntsman spider
They feed on a variety of insects, frogs, and other spiders.
Heteropoda simplex
The female huntsman handles her egg sack with extreme care.
Huntsman spider
Stayed tuned! I’ll share the best way to safely catch and remove the huntsman spider from your living space.
Spider shadow
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.
How cool would it be to have the ability to change colors in a matter of seconds? In the beautiful waters of Okinawa, we have a few fish that are capable of changing color quickly.
The Arrow Bulleye (Priacanthus sagittarius) is a stunning dark ruby red when its hiding from predators. It stays close to the coral reef and blends in well.
Red Bigeye ( Pricanthus sagittarius )
When the Arrow Bullseye is threatened, it flees into open water and changes to a lighter color.
Red Bigeye ( Pricanthus sagittarius )
It eventually changes to silver in a matter of three seconds
Red Bigeye ( Pricanthus sagittarius )
Another example of color change happens at the cleaning station. A cleaning station is a designated location where fish come to get their skin, fins, eyes, mouth, teeth, and gills cleaned by cleaner fish. This is an example of Mutilism. The cleaner fish gets fed fresh parasites and the client gets cleaned. All fish swim into the cleaning station and patiently wait to get cleaned.
The blue-lined surgeonfish and rabbitfish (video below) pull into the station and immediately turn dark in color. The purpose of this is so the cleaner fish can spot the parasites easier and speed up the process.
Fish cleaning station
They naturally change back to their lighter color when the exit the cleaning station.
Nice and clean
Check out this rare event in nature, that few will ever see in the wild.
Could the increase in tourism contribute to fish disease and parasites? Is it possible the cleaner fish can’t keep up?
Isopods and copepods are bloodsucking parasites commonly found at Maeda point. In the recent years, tourism has increased and some days thousands of snorkelers enter the water. Parasites occur naturally but with the increase in tourism, I believe they are becoming more abundant.
One possible reason is due to guided fish feeding tours. They often feed the marine life large amounts of fu (harvested wheat rolls) and other manmade items. In the past, it was popular to feed the fish processed sausage. I have been diving Maeda point since 1992. I have observed a decline in healthy coral colonies and other marine life. I have also seen more fish with skin disease and parasites in recent years. Below are some fish with parasites photographed at Maeda point.
Isopod- Renocilla bollandi
Rhabdamis sp
Filefish with tiny parasites
Twin spot lionfish and parasites
Pennantfish and parasite
Firefish with parasites
Butterflyfish and parasites
Parasite infestation
Damselfish with parasite
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.
On Okinawa, we have six species of Egrets (Great, Intermediate, Cattle, Little, Chinese, and Pacific Reef Egret). Egrets spend most of the day foraging on food in the grasslands. They are opportunistic hunters and have learned a new behavior. They follow a tractor as it plows the field and food rewards are given in large amounts. The tractor plow exposes insects, worms, snakes, eels, mice, and frogs. The payoff is great, a large amount of food in a short period of time.
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.
Brightly colored gobies are popular subjects for underwater macro photographers in the beautiful waters of Okinawa. The Dinah’s goby (Lubricogobius dinah) adapts by using man-made objects as a protective shelter. Discarded glass bottles and cans are prime real-estate for a variety of Marine life in the Ocean.
Scientific name: (Lubricogobius dinah)
Common Name: Dinah’s goby
Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
Habitat: Sandy bottom, living in shells and bottles
Depth: 20-50meters
Diet: Plankton
Average Size: 25mm
You will need a designated macro lens to photograph this beautiful Goby. Approach slowly and avoid any sudden movement.
I have been photographing fluorescence for over five years now. Mainly underwater but lately I have been testing the technique on land. I often find insects, spiders, and plants that fluoresce using a specialized Light&Motion Sola Nightsea light. Some of the micro-spiders fluoresce brightly under blue light, the challenge is to get an acceptable photograph.
Below are some comparison photographs of spiders. The first photograph was taken under blue light and the second under white light using on-camera flash. All the spiders were photographed in their natural habitat on the beautiful Island of Okinawa.
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.
Frogfish are found throughout the Ryukyu Islands in shallow water. They are popular subjects for underwater macro photographers in Okinawa. They are masters of camouflage and mimicry so they can be difficult to find. The juveniles resemble toxic nudibranchs, tunicates, seaweed, algae, soft corals, and sponges.
They are also known as anglerfish. They spend most of their time staying in one location using a specialized fishing pole and lure to attract prey. They are vicious hunters and are capable of swallowing fish larger than itself.
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.
