The Glowing Ocean

[Chris Dodkin]

No, it's not a leak from the local nuclear power plant, or a Photoshop effect.

A strong red tide along the San Diego County coastline is causing brilliant neon blue bioluminescence that's visible at night as tiny light-producing organisms get stirred up as the waves break.

It's amazing to watch - the breaking waves glow a bright blue, and the light spreads out along the surfline as each wave crashes ashore.

During the day, the sea looks like weak beer - a muddy red/brown colour with a creamy yellow foam.

No idea what that stuff does to you if you swallow it - but the light show is amazing!

Canon 5D2 and 17-35 f2.8L - Manual focus on infinity - f6 for 6 sec at ISO 6400

 

[Brian Moore]

Amazing shot, Chris. I wonder if we have a red tide up here at the moment.

 

[Pete Askew]

Really interesting shot Chris. If it's a red tide then it'll be a dinoflagellate (probably Lingulodinium / Gonyaulax), a rigid structured flagellated protozoan - as you know, I'm a microbiologist and these things interest me as I spent years studying the effect of pesticides on algae and protozoa. These organisms, in the numbers required to produce a red tide, can be toxic to fish and shellfish and it's probably not a good idea to get them into your eyes, mouth etc. If I were you I'd also avoid shellfish for a few weeks!!

A professor of microbiology I know tells a great story about bioluminescence. One the way back from the pub one night in the dark he had an unfortunate encounter with something left behind on the pavement by a dog! At the time he had a student working on Photobacterium fischeri, a bioluminescent Vibrio. He came up with a brilliant business idea whereby he'd incorporate the photoluminescent mechanism of P fischeri into the constituents of dog food. The when they crapped on the pavements you'd be able to see it at night. For some reason Pedigree pet foods didn't take up the idea!!

 

[Thomas brookes]

eerrrhemm, yeah...... i was going to say exactly the same as pete!!!

thats amazing chris!! your one lucky guy getting to see all this incredible stuff!

on another note it reminded me of a video i saw the other day how amazing would these two go together?!?!?!?!?!?!

MUNDAKA 24H on Vimeo

check it out

 

[Pete Askew]

Blimey, that's impressive. The others seem somewhat pedestrian compared with him! And (as someone else noted too), it makes it much easier for the sharks to spot him at night!!

 

[Hamish Gill]

He should sure a red tide ... that would be cool!

Awesome photo chris, never heard of anything like that before!

Did you actually approach pedigree chum?
Id buy that food!

 

[Darren Bradley]

Very well done, Chris. I took a quick shot of this tonight at my local beach, but I didn't really have the set up to do it proper.
It's a challenge to shoot! Anyway, I love your treatment.

Here's my attempt.

 

[Darren Bradley]

oh, despite the toxicity of the red tide that Pete was talking about, this happens to coincide with the opening of lobster season locally, and it hasn't stopped a bunch of crazy diver from going out for their quota. I'm wondering how it will affect the divers and their catch!

 

[Paul Lange]

Great shot and the slight grain to it make it really work as an image as well. There was that German guy who would only eat certain foods to turn his poo different colours, he would paint with it. He might might be interested in extending his gamut.

 

[Hamish Gill]

How have I never come accros this? I've seen glowing see creatures, I know they exist, but not this ... It's really odd!

 

[Thomas brookes]

I know what you mean Hamish..... All we get is the Severn bore

 

[Ralph Thornton]

Chris,
Great catch of a natural phenomenon that is not often seen and when present is difficult to photograph. I especially like the combination of the ocean and beach with the additional light from the city on the right. Very well done!

 

[Brian Moore]

That's a very cool shot, too, Darren!