Nope, it's not a spaceship or a strange bird. It's a kind of jellyfish called a Moon Jelly (Aurelia aurita).
We saw it pulsating along just under the surface of the water. I took the photo from a few feet underneath it, shooting straight up. As you can see it was a very sunny day, with the sunlight shining right through the water -- and through the Moon Jelly, too.
Location: the Aegean Sea, near Vouliagmeni, Greece.
This is yet another amazing picture, Bobbie! Fabulous. A great effect to see the transparancy of the jellyfish combined with the sunlight shining through the water! Happy WW, -Jos:)
Thank you all for stopping by. I'll be visiting all of your blogs to see your Wordless Wednesday posts (if I have not done so already).
@ tegdirb92 - I saw your jellyfish post last week, and the jellies in your photo may be the same species as this one -- or at least the same genus.
@ Midas - No, this is a Moon Jelly, not a Man o' War. The Moon Jelly and the Man o' War are in the same phylum, but different classes. The Man o' war is a Scyphozoan, and has a much more dangerous sting (and long tentacles!).
@ Gattina - Welcome back to The Right Blue. You are right on both counts -- Jellyfish are both beautiful and potentially dangerous, especially to people who have an allergic reaction to the sting.
@ Pamela - I never thought of sea jellies as fairy princesses, but they do have an ethereal appeal.
@ Chris -- I hadn't noticed that you lacked good photo taking opportunities, nor that you ignored them. ;-}
@ Jos and Kathy (kml) - Actually, I composed the shot on the fly. I had a wide angle lens on the camera and no time to go ashore and change that or the creature would have vanished.
The abstract effect of the water surface was created quite accidentally, since I was shooting the W/A lens at its minimum range -- and I think the dome port over the lens caused a bit of distortion. Using the sun for a backlight worked out okay, though.
@ Kuanyin - Thank you. Hope all is well with you folks over on Maui.
@ Kat - Some jellyfish can indeed get quite large, but this species doesn't get much bigger than the one in the photo (which was maybe 10"/25cm across).
@ Thomas - You probably would enjoy shooting photos underwater, but I hope it wouldn't distract you from the wonderful photography you do on land.
To everyone else: Please DO click on Thomas L's name and visit his blog, and have a look at the very beautiful calendars and posters produced from Thomas Laupstad's photos of coastal scenery and nature. They'd make great gifts for the holidays.
This is the fist time visit your blog and I am stunned with your photos and stories which are very interesting. This is the absolutely beautiful photo. I love the blue tone of underwater.
Daisy - And I am in awe of your Halloween costume!
@ Rhonda and Digital... Thank you, and welcome to The Right Blue. We hope you will visit again.
Bernie, light underwater -- or rather the lack of it -- usually is a big problem. For this photo I almost had more natural light than I knew what to do with.
what can i say. you leave us once again wordless. thanks for telling me what ocean mystery creature we were looking at...manta ray? no, ahhh a jelly fish!!! aloha, pua
BNSullivan.jpg "Moon jelly (Aurelia aurita) in the Aegean Sea")
Nope, it's not a spaceship or a strange bird. It's a kind of jellyfish called a Moon Jelly (Aurelia aurita).
ReplyDeleteWe saw it pulsating along just under the surface of the water. I took the photo from a few feet underneath it, shooting straight up. As you can see it was a very sunny day, with the sunlight shining right through the water -- and through the Moon Jelly, too.
Location: the Aegean Sea, near Vouliagmeni, Greece.
Bobbie
beautiful--I posted on jellyfish last week. Stunning creatures.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of the jellyfish exhibit they have at Long Beach CA aquarium once.
ReplyDeleteVery impressive...is it man-of--war?
They can look very beautiful (not all of them) but are sometimes quite dangerous !
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of midsummers night dream... and the fairy princesses in their fluttering wings and dresses
ReplyDeleteWonderful shot! I'm envious of your photo taking opportunities! Happy WW.
ReplyDeleteYet another amazing photo! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhoa! Moon Jelly - nice name for a unique creature. THanks for sharing and have a fun day!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great picture. Beautiful. Happy WW.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful jellyfish! What magic nature creates.
ReplyDeleteThis is yet another amazing picture, Bobbie! Fabulous. A great effect to see the transparancy of the jellyfish combined with the sunlight shining through the water! Happy WW, -Jos:)
ReplyDeletegreat pic! they are so otherworldly and beautiful, but do provoke dread in me when encountered in water ;^J
ReplyDeleteI like your photos every time!
ReplyDeleteAwesome picture!
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful - love how you used the backlighting - gives the whole image great mood and atmosphere!
ReplyDeleteoh thats interesting one! TC
ReplyDeleteBobbie, just gorgeous! Your site is great!
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting on my blog!
Happy WW!
very cool jellyfish shot! Happy Wednesday stop by and see me!
ReplyDeleteMamaArcher's Blog
look nice but i don`t want to touch them. happy ww
ReplyDeleteHi Everybody -
ReplyDeleteThank you all for stopping by. I'll be visiting all of your blogs to see your Wordless Wednesday posts (if I have not done so already).
@ tegdirb92 - I saw your jellyfish post last week, and the jellies in your photo may be the same species as this one -- or at least the same genus.
@ Midas - No, this is a Moon Jelly, not a Man o' War. The Moon Jelly and the Man o' War are in the same phylum, but different classes. The Man o' war is a Scyphozoan, and has a much more dangerous sting (and long tentacles!).
@ Gattina - Welcome back to The Right Blue. You are right on both counts -- Jellyfish are both beautiful and potentially dangerous, especially to people who have an allergic reaction to the sting.
@ Pamela - I never thought of sea jellies as fairy princesses, but they do have an ethereal appeal.
@ Chris -- I hadn't noticed that you lacked good photo taking opportunities, nor that you ignored them. ;-}
@ Jos and Kathy (kml) - Actually, I composed the shot on the fly. I had a wide angle lens on the camera and no time to go ashore and change that or the creature would have vanished.
The abstract effect of the water surface was created quite accidentally, since I was shooting the W/A lens at its minimum range -- and I think the dome port over the lens caused a bit of distortion. Using the sun for a backlight worked out okay, though.
Bobbie
Simply stunning! Happy WW!
ReplyDeleteThat is so awesome! Jelly fish can get rather large I've heard. Mine is up.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome!
ReplyDeleteBeen trying to photography jellyfish from above the surface. Not very easy to get sharp shots.
Think I need to get a diving license :)
nice picture. happy ww
ReplyDelete@ Kuanyin - Thank you. Hope all is well with you folks over on Maui.
ReplyDelete@ Kat - Some jellyfish can indeed get quite large, but this species doesn't get much bigger than the one in the photo (which was maybe 10"/25cm across).
@ Thomas - You probably would enjoy shooting photos underwater, but I hope it wouldn't distract you from the wonderful photography you do on land.
To everyone else: Please DO click on Thomas L's name and visit his blog, and have a look at the very beautiful calendars and posters produced from Thomas Laupstad's photos of coastal scenery and nature. They'd make great gifts for the holidays.
I am in awe of your beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteYou've got to be kidding me. That's incredible! Happy WW!
ReplyDeleteThis is the fist time visit your blog and I am stunned with your photos and stories which are very interesting. This is the absolutely beautiful photo. I love the blue tone of underwater.
ReplyDeleteIncredible image Bobbie, I love the light in this, isn't that nuts I am talking about light underwater.
ReplyDeleteJust a beautiful creature, I love it.
Daisy - And I am in awe of your Halloween costume!
ReplyDelete@ Rhonda and Digital... Thank you, and welcome to The Right Blue. We hope you will visit again.
Bernie, light underwater -- or rather the lack of it -- usually is a big problem. For this photo I almost had more natural light than I knew what to do with.
Bobbie
Blue is my favorite color. I know why now! Beautiful photo!
ReplyDeleteAmazing stuff. I love this blog. I added to my feed. And great picture.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thanks for the suggestion about the "mindfulness" book. I'm looking into right now.
Cheers.
Gorgeous! Very artistic, great colors! SUPER beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWOW! I luuuurve this photo!
ReplyDeleteHow pretty! It's a great shot. Maybe I wouldn't hate those little buggers so much if I got to see them in that same light.... Nah. ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Ann, Zack, Mary & E. Mum - Welcome to The Right Blue. Thanks for participating in the conversation here, and we hope you come back.
ReplyDeleteThanks for subscribing to the feed, Zack, and I hope you enjoy that book. I think you get some insights from it.
Dawn (AntiBarbie), they are prettier from under the water -- but you still need to steer clear of their little stinger thingies.
Bobbie
what can i say. you leave us once again wordless. thanks for telling me what ocean mystery creature we were looking at...manta ray? no, ahhh a jelly fish!!! aloha, pua
ReplyDeleteAloha Pua -
ReplyDeleteManta ray? Hmm, you've just given me an idea for a future post. Mahalo for that!
Bobbie
Wow what wounderful picture
ReplyDeleteThank you Ingalill.
ReplyDelete