By love-89.com This captivating photograph features a tiny planktonic creature with large eyes, nestled beneath a shell and drifting on a twig in the ocean, surrounded by sparkling white stars—creating a dreamy scene that blurs the line between reality and fantasy.
The talented photographer behind this stunning image is 25-year-old Chai Chia-Ling, who was named the World Ocean Photographer of the Year 2023 by Oceanographic magazine. This is a groundbreaking achievement, marking the first time a photographer from China has received this honor. At the moment she captured this shot, Chai was in the Philippines, shortly after the area had experienced a volcanic eruption. Despite the initially murky waters, the presence of plankton and Chai’s keen eye resulted in this mesmerizing piece of art.
When discussing the story behind her work, Chai’s excitement is palpable. Her passion for marine life plays a significant role in her creative journey. She recently graduated with a Master’s degree in Evolutionary Biology from Columbia University, having completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia. In her sophomore year, during a marine biology class, she first learned about the phenomenon of “vertical migration of plankton,” discovering that deep-sea creatures, often unseen by the average person, emerge to the ocean’s surface each night. “At that moment, I thought, wow, this is an incredible phenomenon!” she shares, recalling how she was inspired to dive into the world of underwater photography in pursuit of these mysterious deep-sea organisms.
Chai’s fascination with plankton leads her to use a macro lens for her photography. She sees her camera not just as a tool but as an underwater magnifying glass. In her award-winning photograph, the tiny creature is actually a shelled octopus known as a “paper nautilus.” Without Chai’s stunning image, many people may have remained unaware of its existence and its captivating beauty. Raising awareness of marine biology through her photos is one of Chai’s driving motivations.
“Whether you have a background in marine biology or know nothing about it, when you see a beautiful image, it can move you and prompt you to learn more,” she explains. Chai aspires to become a science communicator, hoping to lead more people to discover the incredible world of marine life through her visuals and writings.
Reviewing behind-the-scenes shots of Chai’s underwater photography reveals how challenging it is to shoot in water, especially when searching for plankton at night. In one striking image, she appears heroic in her diving suit, equipped with the necessary oxygen tank and gear. However, as she explains, underwater photographers must not only prepare complex diving equipment but also bring along waterproof camera housings, flashlights, focus lights, and buoy arms as they plunge into the dark waters, relying on torches to find their subjects. With approximately 70 minutes of oxygen, capturing beautiful images becomes a mix of skill and luck—a challenge that adds to the allure of underwater photography.
Chai recalls an instance where she spotted a chain-like organism called a sea squirt and was delighted to find a tiny octopus clinging to each one: “It looked like a train filled with preschool children, all so closely packed together and absolutely adorable.”
This year marks Chai’s fifth as an amateur underwater photographer, and winning the title of Photographer of the Year took her to Australia for the awards ceremony, where she also managed to dive and experience the local marine environment. Having photographed over 500 different species, she laughs, saying this is just the beginning of her underwater adventure.
“My exploration of the ocean is limitless. I’ve set a personal goal to photograph a thousand marine species over my lifetime, and who knows—I might change that goal again in the future!”