How far would you go to get the perfect shot? How about into the icy waters off Russia’s White Sea, which runs along its northwestern coast? Maybe not? That’s okay. Moscow-based photographer and marine biologist Alexander Semenov did it for you. Serving as the head of the White Sea Biological Station’s diving team, Semenov willingly jumped into the frigid waters to take pictures of these serene, luminous creatures. Aside from braving the cold, Semenov is also willing to get pretty close to the jellies, which can have dangerous stinging parts.
share
share
share
share
Jellyfish have been around for millions of years before humans. Their relatively simple bodies are mostly composed of water. They can have multiple stomachs, but don’t have brains. They do, however, have a nervous system that allows them to move and to react to light and scent. They also live comfortably in the freezing waters of the White Sea, sometimes under sheets of ice.
share
share
share
share
share
For Semenov, photographing these creatures is important for academic study. It’s also his way of sharing the beauty and mystery of the undersea world with the rest of the human population. Though they’ve been around for millions of years, jellyfish, as well as all other marine life, face an uncertain future thanks to climate change. Semenov hopes that by communicating the complexity of sea life, we can eventually recognize how important they are to our planet.
You can see more of Semenov’s underwater photography on his OffSet page.
(via Feature Shoot)
