Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2021

Peter Rowlands · Issue 123, Nov/Dec 2021 · pp. 23–24

Products mentioned: Nikon D850, Trioplan 100mm f2.8, Subal housing, Retra strobes, Nikon D5, 17–35mm f2.8 lens, Seacam housing, Seacam strobes, Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, Tokina 10–17mm f3.5–4.5 lens, Aquatica housing, INON Z-330 flashes, Sigma 15mm f2.8 lens, Nauticam housing, Ikelite DS161 strobes

Bedazzled by Alex Mustard, UK Winner, Natural Artistry Alex Mustard (UK) finds a ghost pipefish hiding among the arms of a feather star. Alex had always wanted to capture this image of a juvenile ghost pipefish but usually only found darker adults on matching feather stars. His image conveys the confusion a predator would likely face when encountering this kaleidoscope of colour and pattern. The juvenile’s loud colours signify that it landed on the coral reef in the past 24 hours. In a day or two, its colour pattern will change, enabling it to blend in with the feather star. Nikon D850 + Trioplan 100mm f2.8 lens 12mm extension tube ND8 filter FIT +5 close-up lens 1/250 sec at f2.8 ISO 80 Subal housing two Retra strobes Creation by Laurent Ballesta, France Winner, Underwater Laurent Ballesta (France) peers into the depths as a trio of camouflage groupers exit their milky cloud of eggs and…