Mackerel in synchrony - Béla Násfay - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2007

2007: Behaviour: All Other Animals - Highly Commended

Béla Násfay Enlarge image Mackerel in synchrony

Béla Násfay (Hungary)

Mackerel in synchrony

'Seeing this huge school of fish in a small area in the Red Sea, when they usually live out in the ocean, was surreal. There were hundreds of mouths agape, moving together as if one. They feasted for three days, which gave me enough time to get to know their behaviour. If they felt disturbed, they'd close their mouths and change direction in a flash.' Mackerel is the common name used to describe many different species, for example king mackerel and this Indian mackerel. They usually occur in the open ocean, filtering plankton. Their oily meat is prized by humans, but also shearwater, tuna, dolphins, whales, seagulls and sharks.

Nikon D200 + AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8 lens; 1/125 sec at f11; ISO 100; Ikelite housing; 2x DS125 flashes.

This photograph is available to buy as a print.