Honorable Mention Underwater Digital Art

Ysabela Coll

“Inmersed –
Black Grouper and Silversides”

The Story:

In Cozumel Mexico, a black grouper moves into a dense baitball of silversides, becoming the still center of a rapidly shifting mass. Thousands of fish react in unison, forming a living sphere shaped by pressure, proximity, and instinct—while the predator cuts through the formation.

To emphasize this moment, I reduced the scene to its essential elements. I darkened the background and, using Photoshop, built a subtle pattern from parts of the silversides to suggest movement beyond the frame. By layering and shaping these patterns, I sought to suggest the scale and intensity of the event without distracting from its center and guiding the viewer’s eye toward the point of convergence.

This image is not only about predation, but about balance—how nature organizes chaos, how instinct drives precision, and how every animal plays a role within its ecosystem.

Location:

Mexico, Cozumel, Palancar Gardens

Equipment Used:

• Camera – Nikon D500
• Housing – Nauticam
• Strobe/light – Inon z330 strobes
• Lens – Tokina 10-17mm Fisheye

Camera Settings:

• ISO 250
• F/9
• Shutter speed 1/160s