Name: Kate Jonker
Picture title: Beauty and the Beast
Category: Underwater
Nationality: South African
Occupation: Photographer and writer

Kate:
‘As I was shallowing up after a 25-metre dive at Steenbras Deep in the centre of False Bay, South Africa I came across a small patch of Mediterranean mussels. This invasive species, brought to the waters off Cape Town in the bilge of passing ships in the 1980s, is a beast, replacing the colourful marine life on shallower sections of some reefs with dark patches.

Whilst I was investigating the impact these mussels were having on this particular section of reef, I found a beautiful Bluespotted klipfish (Pavoclinus caeruleopunctatus) perched amongst the mussel shells. He peered up at me cautiously, watching my attempts to battle the surge whilst photographing him with a shallow depth of field. My aim was to capture his beauty whilst softening the sharp edges of the mussels. A challenge not only due to the limited dive time I had remaining, but because of the surge that was washing me to and fro whilst I tried to focus on his eye.’

Technical information:
Nikon D850
Nikon 105mm macro
1/125, f/11, ISO100
Accessories: 2 x Supe D-Max Strobes with an Orcatorch D900V as focus light.
Post processing: Basic adjustments and cleaning in Lightroom and Photoshop.

Website: www.katejonker.com
Instagram: katejonkerphotography
Facebook: KateAJonker
YouTube: Kate Jonker Underwater Photography