4th Place Black & White

Renee Capozzola

"South Seas Spawning"

The Story: In November 2021, I visited the remote atoll of Fakarava in French Polynesia, which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.  Here, the marine life thrives due to strong legal protections.   I was very fortunate to be there just after the full moon when the "Bagnard" or convict tangs spawned nearby in shallow water just before sunset.  This aggregation of so many fish in a small place attracted several reef sharks to the heightened activity, including this grey reef shark.  I decided to convert this image to Black & White to emphasize the reflections and natural contrast.

Location: South Fakarava, French Polynesia

Equipment Used: Canon 5D Mark IV Camera, Canon 11-24mm F4 L USM Lens, Nauticam Housing, Dual Sea & Sea YS-D3 Strobes

Camera Settings: ISO 400, F11, 1/160

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