Look this way you *(&(*&(*^ - Juvenile ManySpotted Sweetlips

[Marriard]

Many, many frustrating attempts over several trips to get a reasonable, in focus, full frame image of this fish.

This is a juvenile Juvenile Many-Spotted Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides). Books tell you the juvies swim in a strange undulating fashion.

That is not the half of it. They swim facing towards the reef, rock or other object in a jerky, quick and unpredictable manner. They only look at you long enough to tease you. They are skittish and small.

Finally I got a couple of images on a shore dive off Kata Beach in Phuket, Thailand. Makes all that time I spent almost worthwhile....

While these aren't 'blow it up poster size', they will be appreciated by anyone who has ever tried to photograph this fish.

Nikon D2X, 60mm+diopter, F16, 1/125, dual Inon 220, Subal Housing.

Enjoy,
M

 

[The Chairman]

Way cool!

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Beautiful! Really striking colors!

 

[sapphire]

Those are awesome photos!! Thank you for sharing them!

Jennifer

 

[renthal]

We had similar problems with juvi spotted drums, trip report and photos coming soon.

 

[Averill]

Way cool pictures. Being a mostly fresh water diver, you scared me with your thread title tho. :11: eyebrow

 

[Cacia]

hope to see one "get one" someday!...very nice pics.

 

[justleesa]

Good catch! we have fish that do that kind of dance here too....I don't waste me time on them though....between their dance and the shutter time of the 5050....forget it.

If this is a juv. what does the grown up look like?

 

[Gilligan]

Great shots. I especially like the second one.
I know how hard they are to photograph. I only saw one on my trip to the Philippines and only got one halfway decent shot of it.

 

[Dee]

I've only seen one of these in an aquarium but the way it moved was mesmerizing! All 3 shots look good to me