It was in the Maldives that I realized that I really like taking fish portraits.  I can happily spend hours observing fish behavior and hovering quietly while awaiting “the shot”.  Many of these photos were taken while snorkeling in shallow water.  Unlike diving, snorkeling has no obvious time fuse as long as you are in warm waters and adequately protected from the sun.  I often emerge from the water 2 hours later, all the while thinking that I have been in for only 45 minutes (give or take), and usually it is a dead camera battery that triggers my exit.

I took over 3000 photos on a weeklong trip to Mirihi Island in the Maldives two years ago.  I’m curious as to how this number compares to other photographers (underwater or topside).  Ridiculous amount?  About average?  I delete the obvious bombs and leave others for editing and further consideration.

Below are some previously unpublished fish portraits that I found in my Maldives archive.

Striped Surgeonfish

Orange Banded Triggerfish

Checkerboard Wrasse

Parrotfish

Dascyllus

Blackeye Rabbitfish

Orangespine Unicornfish

Humpnose Bigeye Bream

So I’m curious, how many photos do you take per day or per week?  How do you know when it’s time to put away the camera?

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