My series of “how it’s taken” continues with the photograph of an eye of the Kuhl’s Stingray
A few Facts about a Kuhl’s Stingray
A Kuhl’s stingray (Neotrygon kuhlii) or Kuhl’s Maskray due to its darker spot over its eyes. Often to see embedded in the sand during the day.
Maximum disk width is estimated 46.5 cm (18.3 in). The Kuhl’s stingray preys on many fish and small mollusks.
Kuhl’s Stingray is ovoviviparous. The embryos are retained in eggs within the mother’s body until they are ready to hatch. The embryos receive nourishment from the mothers’ uterine fluid. Mothers give birth to up to seven pups per litter; these pups range from 6 to 13 in (150 to 330 mm) long at birth.
The Story of how this image was taken of the eye of an in Sand embedded Kuhl’s Stingray.
Finding one is the first step, as you can see you see nothing or better almost nothing. If you have a trained eye maybe a few outlines and the eye that sticks out.
Taking the first Picture just to make sure you have at least one shot of it to give to your customers.
You can see all the Backscatter (White reflections) in the image that comes from waterborne particles. When the light of the strobe hits it they are reflecting and that’s what is seen in the Image.
So with time and patience you’ll get closer and now you can finally see something like an eye appear on the Picture.
They embed themselves to sleep, rest and ambush hunt.
Between the first Picture and this Picture at least 3 minutes have passed. Just to make sure the Stingray does not get scared and takes off.
But be aware you need to stay still in the water but you have movements of waves, currents, and surge, your buoyancy must be perfect not to touch the floor and get more waterborn particles dissolved and in your image.
No fast movement, slow breathing and moving your camera must be very gentle and slow.
We are getting there just not yet. 4 min. are over since the first Picture was taken.
I’m now in the position that my camera is above his wing Ditance to the sand about 10cm and he still didn’t care that I’m there. No flicking no taking off. not even a blink, wink or squint.
It was amazing to be so close to a calm stingray.
And finally after around 5min I reached my goal and I took the best Picture of the Eye of this beautiful and calm Kuhl’s Stingray.
When I left the Kuhl’s Stingray was still in the same position as I found it.
- Leave only Bubbles
- take only Pictures
- do not disturb wildlife
- do not touch
- do not harass
- practice ethical shooting!
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