About The Shot
New Providence, Bahamas/ 2024
These otherworldly, leaf-like structures are Stypopodium algae that grow on rocks near coral reefs. When sunlight hits these leaves, they create an iridescent color as they sway with the movement of the water. Recently, with reef health in decline, macroalgae is viewed negatively as it competes with and smothers corals. This is due to overfishing, which removes the natural predators of the algae, along with pollution and climate change. However, algae are essential in the coral reef ecosystem, forming a significant part of the marine food chain foundation.