Category Archives: kelp forest

macro-wide angle in the kelpforest

Posted on by under EMWL, fish, kelp forest, molluscs, seaweeds, wide angle
I had three pleasurable dives in the last week, two at Silver Steps an one at Castle Beach (the weather was nice and so there was no parking left at SS which forced me to go to Castle for once; an awkward clamber over the rocks at high tide but it was worth it!). As the sun was out, I took my ridiculous close-focus wide angle lens which let’s very little light in*. The water is about 15C now and the viz was great (for Cornwall standards!). The kelp forest is looking tatty this time of year though, with the Tangle hanging on but the Furbelows disintegrating. Tiny Blue-rayed Limpets (Patella pellucida) are everywhere as are Painted Topshells (Calliostoma zizyphinum). I am still struggling with this lens; its macro works fine, but the background is very soft and dark, and the seven pieces of glass in between the subject and sensor result in ample opportunity to catch bubbles and debris in the frame Ideally you’d use it in well-lit, crystal-clear waters in the tropics but the unique perspective it offers does draw me in though. I was lucky to also catch a Tompot Blenny (it nipped my finger before I saw it) but I did not manage to get THE shot. With storm Austen just passed and storm Boelo on its way it will be some time before I can go in the water unfortunately.

*photo nerd info: I used a shutter time of 1/25 in most of these pics.