Amazing Underwater Photos of Ocean Creatures
Check out these incredible images by photojournalist Brian Skerry, and help select which photographs will appear in an upcoming exhibit
- By K. Annabelle Smith
- September 06, 2012, Subscribe
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Learn more about the ocean from the Smithsonian's Ocean Portal. |
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(Brian Skerry )
Sea Angel
Skerry shot this image of a tiny, shelled “sea angel” under an ice cap in Hokaiso, Japan. The frozen top layer can be 25 feet thick at times.
“The creatures have a translucent body and are the size of a Tic Tac candy,” he says, “but they fly on these little wings under the ice.”
Changes in ocean chemistry destroyed the shelled pteropods that this “naked sea butterfly” eats, in turn affecting predators like fish and squid that depend on the sea butterfly for food. Ocean acidification is a serious threat for these little guys.
Vote for this photo to appear in the Natural History Museum’s Portraits of Planet Ocean exhibit, set to open in February 2013!
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Comments (15)
I love to see the bright colours of coral reefs and cannot bare the thought that in most parts of the world the bright colours are faded through from pollution and over fishing.
Posted by Saskia Jacobs on November 1,2012 | 04:28 PM
hi people i love animals and bacon!!!!
Posted by lucy welsteam on October 9,2012 | 09:59 AM
awsome
Posted by Justin on October 3,2012 | 08:57 AM
They're all beautiful!
Posted by Mike on September 18,2012 | 02:51 PM
The pup looks like he is inviting the photographer to come and play. The animation in the pup's eyes seems to show the viewer that he is relaxed and is very curious about the photographer. I liked the composition of the photo.
Posted by Alice E. Thompson on September 14,2012 | 09:44 AM
I picked the manatee over the great hammerhead, because these animals are exsisting so closely with humans that is seems of great importantance to learn to harmonize with them, to then do the same for the great hammerhead.
Posted by Jeni Baity on September 14,2012 | 09:32 AM
The face of underwater sea creatures! Please use it! And thanks for this beautiful gallery of photos!
Posted by Judith deRancourt on September 13,2012 | 07:20 PM
This is a miraculous and beautiful photo! Please use this photo to help us (me, too) learn about this remarkable creature! How beautiful!
Posted by Judith deRancourt on September 13,2012 | 07:17 PM
Belugas are helping spread the word about whaled! A generationof kids are growing up on the song and book, "Baby Beluga." Both are loved by kids and their elders alike! Use this great photo, please! This remarkably portrays the Beluga as I've rarely seen, if ever, in a photo.
Posted by Judith deRancourt on September 13,2012 | 07:15 PM
Whatever teaches about the vital importance coral reefs play should be used in the exhibit!
Posted by JudithdeRancourt on September 13,2012 | 07:10 PM
Using this photo will foster more of an understanding of what "endangered" truly means.
Posted by Judith deRancourt on September 13,2012 | 07:08 PM
This amazing photo belongs in the exhibit! So moving!
Posted by Judith deRancourt on September 13,2012 | 07:06 PM
I couldn't vote for only one! Absolutely magnificent!!! These encouraged my 3 sons to take a closer look. I vote for a Smithsonian calendar... Christmas gifts anyone!
Posted by Rebeka Knowlton on September 13,2012 | 03:43 PM
A beautiful body of work. As a photographer, I am in awe of the skill and patience required to capture such stunning images. As a human being, I am grateful that others share the exquisite beauty and perfection of our planet by capturing images most of us will never have the opportunity to see first hand. Thank you.
Posted by Donna on September 13,2012 | 09:41 AM