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Tony Wu's Image
Tony was surprised there weren’t many photos of the two-spot snapper mass spawning – until he hit the water. The currents were strong and unrelenting and his first attempt failed. But by positioning himself so the action came to him, Tony captured this dynamic arc of spawning fish in the oblique morning light.
Thousands of two-spot snappers gather to spawn each month around Palau. Tony was intrigued to see the usually red fish rapidly change colour during mating to a multitude of hues and patterns. Predators will soon arrive to take advantage of the bounty, but strong currents will drag a few lucky eggs into the open ocean.
Behind the lens
Tony Wu
USA/Japan
Tony has been documenting marine life since 1995. First were the tropical reefs of Southeast Asia, followed by long-term projects centred upon large cetaceans and spawning aggregations. He’s now devoted to the oceans of Japan, which encompass everything from tropical to Arctic environments, as well as many unique habitats in between. Tony views himself as a translator, interpreting and communicating on behalf of the underwater world by using photographs, scientific information and writing.
Image details
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- 15mm f2.8 lens
- 1/200 sec at f9 • ISO 640 • Zillion housing • Pro One optical dome port
- Shark City dive site, Palau
Copyright in Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.
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