Luis Arpa Toribio won a 4 night dive trip for two to Dumaguete, Philippines with Atmosphere Resort & Spa!

This image shows a juvenile Pinnate Batfish (Platax pinnatus) photographed in the tropical waters of Indonesia’s Lembeh Strait. Using a slow shutter speed combined with a snooted strobe mounted directly above the camera at a controlled distance, along with deliberate camera panning, I aimed to create a sense of dynamic motion while highlighting the fish’s distinctive juvenile coloration. Young pinnate batfish display striking black bodies outlined with vivid orange—a pattern they lose within just a few months as they mature.

The photograph is meaningful because it captures a life stage that is both visually dramatic and short-lived, documenting a moment in the species’ rapid developmental change. It also demonstrates that compelling images can be created with minimal equipment when technique and timing align. The behavior observed is typical of juveniles: highly active and frequently darting into crevices for protection from predators, which made the shot particularly challenging. Over two dives, I waited patiently for the fish to emerge long enough to align movement, light, and composition. Despite the technical difficulty and constant motion, the image was taken carefully so as not to interfere with or alter the fish’s natural behavior.