Aquatic organisms are some of the most striking and intricately beautiful natural subjects one can photograph. Technique is an extension of close-up flash technique with flash units positioned for a type of back-lighting effect called pseudo-darkfield. The backlighting enhances filamentous structure and color in translucent organisms.

The composite image to the right was made by photographing subjects on the inner wall of a small aquarium. Individual images were cut and pasted digitally to make the single composite.

Aquatic ecosystems are incredibly diverse but also increasingly polluted from point sources along watersheds. The Great Lakes are a huge fresh water resource we should not take for granted. With respect to Lake Erie, history has taught us some valuable lessons but society tends to become complacent.

The spiny waterflea (Bythotrephes longimanus) is only one of a number of recent invasive aquatic species that have threatened the ecological balance of the Great Lakes. These specimens were collected from fishing lines and then photographed as they swam in a small petri dish. Two images were combined digitally for effect. Note how backlighting brings out details in spines and appendages of the organism. The translucence of eggs within the brood pouch provides a 3 dimensional effect.