Heading out at sunrise to swim with bottlenose dolphins. Photographed last month in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.
Heading to the Dolphins
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Month: December 2025
Pacific Bluetail Skink
Marty’s photo of the day #4915: This is a Pacific bluetail skink. Photographed last month in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.
An Apology to My International Shipmates
Last month, when Deb and I sailed on the Katharina in Indonesian New Guinea, the first thing I did was apologize to my international shipmates for Donald Trump and his bigoted, vindictive, hateful behavior. One other American was on the boat with us. She (a professor from Columbia University) arrived a little later than we […]
Just Like in the Book
Marty’s photo of the day #4914: This is an orange anemonefish (sometimes called an orange skunk anemonefish) with a Merten’s anemone. If you have access to “Reef Fish Identification: Tropical Pacific” look it up. The photo in that book is virtually identical to my photo taken last month in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New […]
Bat Island
Many of the smaller islands in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea are “bat islands.” I shot this series of photos as we approached one of those islands. It was teaming with flying foxes. Since we were returning from a stop at a waterfall, I only had my underwater camera with me. I would […]
Blackpatch Triggerfish
Marty’s photo of the day #4913: This is a blackpatch triggerfish. Photographed last month in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.
The Badass Chickens of Indonesian New Guinea
Photographing the Moorish Idol
Marty’s photo of the day #4911: Moorish idols are plentiful in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea. Photographing them, however, was difficult, because they’d turn away at the last moment, and their mouths were often out of focus or lost in the shadows. It wasn’t until my last snorkel (roughly #30), that I captured […]
Sleeping Sea Krait
While in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea, I often explored crevices in the volcanic rock formations along the ocean shore. My usual finds were colorful crabs and lizards, but I also found this sea krait (a venomous snake with a paddle-shaped tail). Sea kraits must leave the water to digest their meals, so […]
Do Redfin Butterflyfish Glow?
Marty’s photo of the day #4910: For yesterday’s photo of the day, I featured a bluespotted grouper that produced the illusion of bioluminescence. Today’s photo is even more extreme. These redfin butterflyfish appeared to be bioluminescent near their pectoral fins. But again, it’s an illusion. Instead, they have fluorescent pigments in their skin that absorb […]
Bluespotted Groupers Change Colors
Marty’s photo of the day #4909: Many of the fish I observed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea appeared to produce their own light. For most of those fish, including this bluespotted grouper, the bioluminescence was an illusion. Bluespotted groupers, however, can change colors for camouflage.
Silky Owl Butterfly
Marty’s photo of the day #4908: This is a silky owl butterfly. Photographed last month in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.
Artsy Parrotfish
I was standing on a dock in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea when this beautiful blue parrotfish swam close. With only my Canon land camera in hand, I decided to see what would happen if I shot from above. I think it turned out kind of cool. Artsy even.
Fish Photobomb!
Marty’s photo of the day #4907: It’s a fish photobomb! While snorkeling the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea last month, I tried hard to get a good horned bannerfish (lower) photo, but they would always turn at the last moment and never seemed to be in crisp focus. Late in the trip, I thought […]
Crab Photography
Marty’s photo of the day #4906: The key to making a dramatic crab photo is to get low and shoot from an interesting angle. Photographed last month in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.
Spinecheek Anemonefish
Marty’s photo of the day #4905: This is a spinecheek anemonefish. Because the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea supports the greatest number of fish species in the world, Deb and I ended up seeing more species of anemonefish than we knew existed. One of my goals during our snorkels was to shoot a frameable […]
The Bugs of Indonesian New Guinea, Pt 4
I’m concluding my “Bugs of Indonesian New Guinea” day with a weird sight from Deb’s and my rainforest night hike. Is it a spider molting? Is it two spiders fighting? Or two spiders mating? I’m still not sure. But it/they were big. Photographed last month in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.
The Bugs of Indonesian New Guinea, Pt 3
More from my “Bugs of Indonesian New Guinea” day: I’ve seen orb weaver spiders in rainforests across the world. This one is near the top for its eye-catching markings. Photographed last month in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.
The Bugs of Indonesian New Guinea, Pt 2
When Deb and I traveled to all seven continents for my first book, Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents, I spent time with a professional photographer/scientist in the Amazon Rainforest. His default name for any bug he didn’t immediately recognize was to call it a “katydid.” With him in mind, I’m continuing my […]
The Bugs of Indonesian New Guinea, Pt 1
Marty’s photo of the day #4904: Today’s theme is “The Bugs of Indonesian New Guinea.” We’ll start with this beautiful dragonfly and move on to the strange and the creepy later in the day. Photographed last month in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.