Articles

It’s no secret that two of the planet’s best macro destinations are Indonesia and the Philippines. Divers flock from all over the world to these hotspots to get a glimpse of the most miniscule of creatures. What draws underwater photographers to observing these little critters for long periods of time is not merely fascinating animal behavior, but also the bright hues that many of these animals exhibit. From oranges to bright pinks to cool blues, macro is all about a tiny display of grand pigmentation gradients. And because Photographer of the Week, Insoo Park, is just a hop and a skip from the Philippines and Indonesia in his native Korea, he has become a frequent visitor to the resident shrimp, crabs, nudibranchs and other miniature delights, creating impressive photos that unveil some of their tiny secrets.

What I especially like about Insoo’s work is the correlation between habitat and animal color that is exhibited in each image. In highlighting nature’s affinity for camouflage, he creates images that boldly express monochromatic hues from the color spectrum, but place his images side by side, and you have a rainbow of saturation. And when you sprinkle such manifestations of eye candy with animal behavior, what you create is a series that draws in viewers, puzzles them, awes them, and ultimately makes them want to head to where the action is.
 

Nemo breeding its eggs, Anilao, Philippines
 

Commensal crab on sponge, Anilao, Philippines
 

Colorful Cyerce nigra sea slug, Romblon, Philippines
 

Grouper and cleaner shrimp, Bali, Indonesia
 

Green crab on whip coral, Anilao, Philippines
 

Nudibranch and eggs, Anilao, Philippines
 

Harlequin shrimp taking care of its young, Bali, Indonesia
 

Cowry and young go for a light stroll, Lembeh, Indonesia
 

Starry lionfish, Bali, Indonesia