STARE at this picture for too long and you could become hypnotised. This extreme close-up, with only those incredible emerald eyes in focus, has a distinct otherworldly feel.
The animal is a yellow pygmy goby (Lubricogobius exiguus). Found throughout the Indo-Pacific, at just 2 centimetres long they live up to their name. 鈥淭hey often live in discarded bottles, which makes them relatively easy to approach, as they rarely stray far from their adopted homes,鈥� says photographer Tony Wu.
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Wu found this particular fish sitting near the opening of a small hole in the sand at a depth of 21 metres, near the south-western tip of Shikoku Island in Japan. He thinks it may have made its home in a sea urchin skeleton buried in the sand. Its mate was probably hiding inside the hole 鈥� these gobies are usually seen in pairs 鈥� but there was no way to be sure without disturbing the fish.
Over the course of half an hour, Wu was able to approach to within several centimetres. 鈥淭he fish retreated several times, but in each instance it returned, seemingly more comfortable with my presence,鈥� he says.
To highlight the emerald eyes of the goby against the yellow of its body, Wu used a constant light rather than an underwater flash. That allowed him to find the exact angle at which the contrast between the two colours was strongest.
Photographer
Tony Wu,
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淟ook into my eyes鈥�
