Cuttlefish mating. Babbacombe, Devon, UK. The nearest animals
have started to suppress their zebra stripes in response to the
proximity of the photographer. The animals can change body patterns
in less than a second.
Cuttlefish hiding in sand, Lanzarote. Natural light at about
4m depth. 48 bits/pixel data colour-corrected using Photoshop.
R93E11-32
Cuttlefish eye, same animal as above. Natural light (hence the
restricted depth of field) at 4m below surface. 48 bit data colour-corrected
using Photoshop. Natural light was used because the strobe battery
had gone flat, but it is doubtful that the animal would have
permitted such proximity had flash been fired at it during the
approach. The patent zebra stripes on the body indicate that
it is not stressed. R93E11-36
Cuttlefish camouflaged, Lanzarote.
Flash illumination. This is what a cuttlefish looks like when
it does not want to be seen. The animal did not like the photographer
hovering directly above it. Suppression of sexual display stripes
takes place in less than one second. R93E08-13
Flash illumination. This is what a cuttlefish looks like when
it does not want to be seen. The animal did not like the photographer
hovering directly above it. Suppression of sexual display stripes
takes place in less than one second. R93E08-13