Free Flow

Technique: Photo was taken with a 35MM lens attached to a 1:3 extension tube mounted on a Nikonis III body. Strobe fired from directly overhead approximately 10" away on low power due to a lot of ambient light present at the depth. Film used: Kodak Ecktachrome 64 ASA.

Summary: These tubeworms, also called feather dusters, filter plankton matter in the ocean. The food gets trapped in the feather-like tentacles. When it's time to eat, the worm retracts into a crusty looking tube to dine on "the catch of the day". This particular species is found in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

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Tubeworms | Rum Cay, Bahamas

Tube worms are found in all depths, sizes, colors and places. It sounds like they are all over the bottom but they really aren’t that common. Finding a perfect cluster of them in this size and color is a photo op that should not be passed by. In this case, the depth is approximately 15 feet of water with bright sun. With a slow film speed of 64 ASA, you most certainly fire the strobe on low power, and keep a safe distance to not over-expose the subject,

In tricky conditions like this, I suggest a technique called bracketing. Shooting several images with the strobe at different distances and changing some of the camera angles. These guys will react to flashes and dart inside their protective tube. They will come out again and hopefully not take their time in doing it.

Some history trivia: Rum Cay was the second stop for Columbus as he continued his discovery of the Americas.

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