Photo Feature
The Big Fish
This is not an image of a whale shark trapped in nets. Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua, is referred to by divers as the Galapagos of Indonesia. Here, in the manner of seagulls that tail fishing boats, the world’s largest fish, the whale shark Rhincodon typus, has learned to take sustenance from the droppings of fish catch hauled in by local fisherfolk. Not harmed by the fishing community, what we see here is a demonstration of quasi worship with fishing boats putting out ikan puri, tiny fish food, as an offering to these gentle giants. The tradition dates back several generations, but was only recently ‘discovered’ by divers who frequent these waters to swim among dugongs and a diversity of marine life. Definitely a far cry from the carnage brutally unleashed by mechanised trawl fishing mafias across the globe.
Photo: Gigant Desai
Location: Cenderawasih Bay, Papua, Indonesia Details: Camera: Canon 7D (Nauticam Housing Twin Inon Z240 strobes at different settings, Large dome), Lens: 10-17 mm. fisheye, Shutter speed: 1/60 sec., Aperture: f/18, ISO 100, Focal length: 10 mm. Image taken: July 1, 2012; 7:12 a.m.
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