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SUMMER 2012
Photo by William Tan
Text by Stephen Frink
CAmerA:
Nikon D200 in Nexus housing, Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8 lens, Sea & Sea YS-90 strobes
SettingS:
1/250 sec @ f/20, ISO 100
LoCAtion:
Manado, Indonesia
A
lthough it is not
uncommon to see
bigfin reef squid
on Indo-Pacific reefs,
particularly at night, to
capture such a beautiful
representation of their
reproductive cycle is rare
indeed. Female bigfin reef
squid can release as many
as a thousand eggs but die
soon afterward. The egg
capsules in this photograph
contain two to nine eggs
each and will hatch in
about three weeks.
The bigfin reef squid
fishery is commercially
significant and generally
operates at night,
deploying a fleet of boats
that shine bright lights
into the water. Divers
often see these squid
when making night dives
beneath brightly lit piers
or when the moon is full
because of their attraction
to illumination.
William Tan is an
accomplished marine
photographer, specializing
in behavioral vignettes of
the coral reef. He is also
well known for his skill as
violinist for the Singapore
Symphony Orchestra.
AD
PARTING SHOT