Fairy basslet sandwitch

[ilanbt 7]

I spent the weekend in dahab Egypt and the pick of the weekend was this lizardfish with a fairy basslet in its mouth still alive not knowing how to swallow it indifferent to the photographer.

[herbko 0]

That's one way to get a fairy basslet to hold still for a photo.

 

Very nice shot.

[Cybergoldfish 1]

"He who Hesitates..."

 

Well captured Ilan.

[jimbo1946 0]

That's an incredible photo, Ilan. The subject matter is superb, a really great fish behavior photograph.

 

Since this is the photo critique forum, here goes: I think you could present the photo a little better by improving the contrast and color. I did a couple of minutes work in Photoshop and got this:

 

 

 

I'm not criticizing your photo at all, but it is a great shot and deserves the best treatment you can give it. This could definitely be a contest winner.

 

Jim

[Patterns 0]

Hi, not sure I'm qualified to comment here but ...

 

I like this shot. (I had something slightly similar at Lembeh recently, but perhaps nto so photogenic.) To my eye, Jimbo's version looks a little too processed.

 

Either way I'm puzzled by the colour of the sand close to the head, compared to farther away. I don't think it can be reflection of the colour of the basslet because it's also there next to the right fin, where I don't think the colour of the fish would make any difference. What lighting are you using; is this colour difference due to uneven lighting?

 

-David

[ilanbt 7]

This is the disadvantage of the internal flash I'm using :-(

[SharpDiver 0]

Jimbo's version appears over-processed to me, also. I think monitor calibration has reared its ugly head.

[ilanbt 7]

Fighting against the lizard fish natural camouflage is futile

I tried to get the natural colour of the fairy basslet.

[scubag 0]

Great Shot,

 

The color cast falloff is the result of an on camera underpowered strobe. My guess is that you were zoomed all the way in and at the max color limit of the internal strobe. Still a great shot. Using a more powerful external stobe and getting it farther off camera will help even out the color.

 

Doug

[Marc Furth 3]

No offence to ilanlbt, I feel it’s a infringement to one’s photographic work to try to improve a posted picture with out permission.

 

Marc

[WetA70 0]

Great shot!

 

I don't want to be a nitpicker...but this is the Photo critique section! So unless my monitor is totally uncalibrated or the poor victim has fainted, the lizard fish prey is not a Fairy basslet. The Fairy basslet (Gramma Loreto) has a blue upper body and is not found in the Red Sea. My guest would be it is an anthias, probably a Scalefin anthias (Pseudoanthias Squamipinnis) but I don't think the lizard fish or anybody really cares.

 

I really like the photo, how did you succeed taking it...is it pure luck or did you stalked the lizard fish for a while.

 

Clément

[Reefwreck 0]

Ilanbt, nice catch! My only suggestion would be that you might want to rotate the image about 20 degrees or so, counterclockwise. The revised angle of the subject in the frame might enhance the visual appeal, at least to me.

Cheers.

[ilanbt 7]

I happen to have a rotated picture

[SharpDiver 0]

Great shot!

 

I don't want to be a nitpicker...but this is the Photo critique section! So unless my monitor is totally uncalibrated or the poor victim has fainted, the lizard fish prey is not a Fairy basslet. The Fairy basslet (Gramma Loreto) has a blue upper body and is not found in the Red Sea. My guest would be it is an anthias, probably a Scalefin anthias (Pseudoanthias Squamipinnis) but I don't think the lizard fish or anybody really cares.

 

I really like the photo, how did you succeed taking it...is it pure luck or did you stalked the lizard fish for a while.

 

Clément

I posted a similar response yesterday, and then deleted after I found on another forum that the anthias is called the "jewel fairy basslet" as a common name. This is the problem with common names. Of course, Latin names are only slightly better at making sure that they apply to only one animal and they are completely incomprehensible to many of us (myself included).

[james 0]

This one has too good of a latin name to pass up:

 

Pseudanthias squamipinnis

 

That one's a female, or was.

 

Cheers

James

[whitey 2]

I think it's a great shot!

 

I think Jim was right to say it could be improved in Photoshop (contrast seems a little low), but on my monitor Jim's version is way oversaturated.

 

With digital manipulation there's a fine line between just right and overdone. I think everyone is still learning where that line is, so discussion like this is constructive. Personally I'd have no problem with someone manipulating an image of mine in this setting - I think it's a complement to the photographer that someone thinks the photo's good enough to work on to try and improve further.

[ilanbt 7]

My Fish guide say its a fairy basslet, female by the way the male has a purpulish color.

 

In Pemba-Africa they have different colors.

 

And taking the picture was pure luck because the lizzard fish didn't pay any attention to me and let me take as many photos as I wanted.

 

They are very common in the red sae as you can see in the picture.

[ilanbt 7]

In the photo critique forum I take no offence when someone tries to improve my pictures especialy if I learn from it!

 

So jimbo1946 it is OK and if anyone wishes to try be my guest!

[WetA70 0]

I posted a similar response yesterday, and then deleted after I found on another forum that the anthias is called the "jewel fairy basslet" as a common name.  This is the problem with common names. Of course, Latin names are only slightly better at making sure that they apply to only one animal and they are completely incomprehensible to many of us (myself included).

Hi Jeff,

 

a "jewel fairy basslet" ... very interesting! I came up with three common names for the poor fish in French: Barbier rouge ( red barber) Barbier queue de lyre (lyra's tail barber) and ... Barbier bijou ( j e w e l barber). The only interesting point to latin names or scientific names if you prefer is that they are most of the time unique. I must admit I only use them to switch between my french and english fish ID books. Even if I've painfully studied Latin for five years and that French is a bit more related to Latin than English it usually doesn't bring more information to me.

 

If you analyse the Squamipinnis part of the name it only means "Fin with scale(s)" so Scalefin anthias is far more easier to remember.

 

So "Bon apétit!" to the lizard fish.

 

Clément

[WetA70 0]

My Fish guide say its a fairy basslet, female by the way the male has a purpulish color.

 

In Pemba-Africa they have different colors.

 

And taking the picture was pure luck because the lizzard fish didn't pay any attention to me and let me take as many photos as I wanted.

 

They are very common in the red sae as you can see in the picture.

I'm glad to see that the species has not been endangered by the lizardfish. From the description you gave of the male and the number of them in this picture I'm pretty much sure it's a Scalefin anthias. I won't argue with your ID book because common names are so variable.

 

Are you pretty much sure it's the same species in Pemba-Africa and how much different are they? Are they as common as in the Red Sea?

 

Clément

[ilanbt 7]

In my red sea fish guide by Helmut Debelius it is called Jewel fairy basslet in Pemba they are blue and not orange and they are quite common I don't have an indian ocean fish guide with me but its certainly there.

Any way in Hebtrew they are called in free translation "red sea goldies" and I heard the term anthias for them in the past well common names...

 

And since they are so common in the red sea sometimes they just block the frame.

[Simon K. 0]

Hi Ilanbt,

 

i'm pretty sure it is not the jewel Basslet (that are the more purple one) but the Red Sea Basslet (i send the latin name later) have a look at your debelius book. You'll find it there.

 

To the red sand:

 

I had the sane probleme before i got my ds125. You can eliminate it with some masking and "Selective color" (probably reduce magenta in Neutrals)

 

Simon

[WetA70 0]

In my red sea fish guide by Helmut Debelius it is called Jewel fairy basslet in Pemba they are blue and not orange and they are quite common I don't have an indian ocean fish guide with me but its certainly there.

Any way in Hebtrew they are called in free translation "red sea goldies" and I heard the term anthias for them in the past well common names...

 

And since they are so common in the red sea sometimes they just block the frame.

Hi Ilanbt

 

The Helmut Delbius ID book (french translation) I have is the one who's mentioning the "Barbier bijou" (jewel barber) name. So may be the German name of the fish is the source of the "jewel" appelation. I wish I could dive the Red sea once. Thank's for mentionning the Hebrew name "red sea goldies" it is very descriptive.

 

Clément

[Simon K. 0]

You are right it is a Jewel fairy Baslet (Pseudanthias squamipinnis)

 

The Red Sea Fairy Basslet (Pseudanthias taeniatus) look similar but diffrent.

 

Simon