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2007: Behaviour: All Other Animals - Runner-up

Marguerite Fewkes Enlarge image Ocean glider

Marguerite Fewkes (United Kingdom)

Ocean glider

'One afternoon, dozens of large flying fish appeared off the bow of our boat sailing between Vanuatu in the South Pacific and Fiji. Their blue sheen was dazzling against the velvety sea. Focusing my camera was hard, as they were so fast. I decided to focus on one area of sea. The second one appeared, I quickly refocused and shot repeatedly until it submerged.' Flying fish fly by beating their tail fins to build up speed for take off. They then glide on the huge pectoral fins either side of their body. Usually, they surface to flee predators such as tuna and swordfish and can travel up to 100 metres. There are about 50 species in all the major oceans, feeding on plankton, small fish and shrimps.

Canon EOS 20D + Canon 75–300mm IS DO zoom lens; 1/500 sec at f7.1; ISO 200.

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