Out on a night dive, Songda saw all sorts of larvae and tiny animals migrate up from the depths of the ocean, under cover of darkness, to feed on surface-dwelling phytoplankton, or microalgae. Then came this magnificent diamondback squid. It hovered beneath Songda for just a moment, basking in his nightlight, before disappearing in a flash of gold.
The squid pictured was just a hatchling, but, like an adult, it propelled itself with undulations of its triangular fins, sprinting away when faced with danger. Special organs in a diamondback squid’s skin – chromatophores – contain sacs of pigment that allow the animal to change colour. Other organs can reflect and scatter light.
China
An interest in exploration from a young age led Songda to pursue black-water photography. He has since won numerous awards in international photography competitions and has been published in many renowned magazines. For Songda, being able to explore the ocean is one of the most wonderful experiences in life, and he hopes to show its unique beauty through his work.
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