PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Mayumi Takeuchi-Ebbins | Magical moment with Moon jellyfish in the kelp forest

Name: Mayumi Takeuchi-Ebbins
Picture title: Magical moment with Moon jellyfish in the kelp forest
Category: People’s Choice
Nationality: Japanese / living in the UK
Occupation: Full-time professional Underwater photographer for the last 5 years / Photographing 17 years underwater

Technical information
Camera: Nikon D5
Lens: Sigma 15mm Fisheye
EXIF: ISO200, f/16, 1/100s

Mayumi Takeuchi-Ebbins says:

This is a small school of Moon jellyfish and Japanese kelp.
I took this image from the Minamata Sea, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan in April 2022. There is a phenomenon lots of Moon jellyfish will gather close to shore between April to May in the Minamata sea also Japanese kelp are growing under cold water from winter to spring in Japan. But it is very difficult to see these two subjects together unless you know when and where to dive for aiming. I was looking for these subjects together for two years and finally, I could succeed in shooting Moon jellyfish in the kelp forest. The kelp forest will disappear by the middle of April due to water temperature and Moon jellyfish won’t be turned up until a certain temperature. It was very difficult to read the right timing to shoot this magical moment for collaboration with Jellyfish and Kelp Forest. I have chosen the correct date for this and read high tide and low tide and the sun’s direction before diving and choosing the right time to see them. I spent a week to find jellyfish and finally, I could shoot this image after all my efforts. There were not many jellyfish at that time but I carefully chose the best composition that I could get jellyfish as much as I could into the flame in the kelp forest and Snell’s window effect. I never forget how it was so a beautiful time to see some Moonjellyfish floating in the kelp forest and it was a magical time.