Starring

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 30, 2010891 views9 comments

I was in Panama a couple of weeks ago, part of the time in Bocas Del Toro snorkeling. That area is known for lots of reefs, but one of the coolest things was Playa De La Estrella (Star Beach, or Starfish Beach). It was calm, clear water, with a bottom that dropped off the beach steeply, and was littered with these starfish.

This pic was actually really easy to get there in only a few feet of water, but I liked the way the light played over it. I chose to center it because there really wasn't anything around it but sandy bottom.

Thanks for looking!

Olympus 770SW
ISO 80
f/3.5
1/800
6.7 mm (38 mm-e)
PS CS4/ACR for adjustments to WB and sharpening

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on April 30, 2010 at 3:23 AM

I like the way the light plays over it aswell david. Looks great.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on April 30, 2010 at 10:59 AM

This is a simple and striking capture. Well seen. I would like to compare one with the starfish moved a little off center, but this choice works fine. Techs look spot on and the colors are richly interesting.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on April 30, 2010 at 11:47 AM

Just love all kind of shapes here !
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on April 30, 2010 at 1:02 PM

Awesome! The light play and simple comp rock

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on April 30, 2010 at 10:49 PM

The light reflecting is just fantastic, especially given the subject (I find sea star's so difficult to photograph, and in my opinion you've done it justice here). My only teeny nit would be to have the Sea Star off-center a tad, minor point because even as presented its a striking image.

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on May 1, 2010 at 3:50 AM

David, this is very artistic! Simple, but graphically incredibly strong. IMO the center placement works very well here. Well seen!

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on May 2, 2010 at 9:19 AM

The starfish is by itself very interesting, but I like the zany white lines on the sandy floor even more!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on May 3, 2010 at 9:12 AM

Hi David,

Very well seen and captured. The bands of reflected light are great and the detail even though shooting through water is very good (and does make me want to see a larger version!). I like the composition as presented, but do wonder how it would compare with the starfish shifted slightly up and to the left (along the diagonal line created by the top edge of the upper left and upper right "arms".

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by David Bostedo on May 3, 2010 at 9:56 AM

...the detail even though shooting through water is very good...

Thanks Brad! I just wanted to be clear that this was shot with the camera maybe a foot above the starfish in about 3 feet of water (it's an underwater camera). From your comment, I wasn't sure if that was obvious...

Registered on May 5, 2006, 178 Posts, 2224 Comments