Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
In the moonlight

A stalked jelly fish against a weed backdrop. This shot was taken in kimmeridge marine nature reserve earlier this year 2023 where stalked jellyfish thrive, the presence of so many species of stalked jellyfish in this small area was a contributing factor in it becoming a marine nature reserve. I find the shape of them intriguing almost like underwater flowers whilst being quite voracious poredators eating small copepods and other marine invertibrates. In a world where some marine species are disappearing this thriving population is great to observe. For this shot I wanted the abiguity, initially make the viewer think they are looking at a flower but then on closer inspection it is a stalked jellyfish. To get this shot took an incredible amount of patience as they thrive in this area because of the surge in the shalliow water.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.0023
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Kimmeridge, United Kingdom
Camera: ILCE-7RM4A
Copyright: © sandra stalker