Seagrass in Motion

By June 2, 2005July 15th, 2021San Clemente Island, Underwater Life

One morning while diving at San Clemente Island I was struck by the lackluster light. It was cloudy and dark and I had yet to find any exciting subjects to shoot. I was spacing out in the shallows watching the kelp fishes meander among the weeds when I started fiddling around with long handheld exposures trying to find something interesting in the motion of seagrass as it was tossed about by passing swells. Here is what I got:

Surf grass on the rocky reef -- appearing blurred in this time exposure -- is tossed back and forth by powerful ocean waves passing by above. San Clemente Island, Phyllospadix

Surf grass on the rocky reef — appearing blurred in this time exposure — is tossed back and forth by powerful ocean waves passing by above. San Clemente Island.
Image ID: 10240
Species: Surfgrass, Phyllospadix
Location: San Clemente Island, California, USA

Surf grass on the rocky reef -- appearing blurred in this time exposure -- is tossed back and forth by powerful ocean waves passing by above. San Clemente Island, Phyllospadix

Surf grass on the rocky reef — appearing blurred in this time exposure — is tossed back and forth by powerful ocean waves passing by above. San Clemente Island.
Image ID: 10237
Species: Surfgrass, Phyllospadix
Location: San Clemente Island, California, USA

A garibaldi fish (orange), surf grass (green) and palm kelp (brown) on the rocky reef -- all appearing blurred in this time exposure -- are tossed back and forth by powerful ocean waves passing by above. San Clemente Island, Phyllospadix, Hypsypops rubicundus

A garibaldi fish (orange), surf grass (green) and palm kelp (brown) on the rocky reef — all appearing blurred in this time exposure — are tossed back and forth by powerful ocean waves passing by above. San Clemente Island.
Image ID: 10238
Species: Surfgrass, Phyllospadix, Hypsypops rubicundus
Location: San Clemente Island, California, USA

Surf grass on the rocky reef -- appearing blurred in this time exposure -- is tossed back and forth by powerful ocean waves passing by above. San Clemente Island, Phyllospadix

Surf grass on the rocky reef — appearing blurred in this time exposure — is tossed back and forth by powerful ocean waves passing by above. San Clemente Island.
Image ID: 10247
Species: Surfgrass, Phyllospadix
Location: San Clemente Island, California, USA

These photos were quite simple to expose and I shots hundreds of them on the dive, throwing away 95% of them upon review and ending up with a few worthwhile keepers.

Nikon D100, 12-24mm f/4 lens, f22 at whatever, available light.

Keywords: motion, blur, time exposure, seagrass.

About Phil Colla

I am a natural history photographer. I enjoy making compelling images in the ocean, on land, and in the air. I have maintained the Natural History Photography blog since 2005 and my searchable Natural History Photography Library since 1997. Here are some tear sheets and behind the scenes views. Thanks for looking!