2018 Photo Contest, Nature, 3rd prize

Flying Fish in Motion

Photographer

Michael Patrick O'Neill

18 August, 2017

A flying fish swims below the surface in the Gulf Stream late at night, offshore from Palm Beach, Florida, USA.

Moving its tail fin up to 70 times per second, a flying fish can reach an underwater speed of nearly 60 kilometers per hour. Angling itself upwards, it then breaks the surface while still propelling itself along by rapidly beating its tail underwater, before taking to the air and gliding—successfully escaping predators such as tuna, marlin and swordfish.

About the photographer

Michael Patrick O'Neill

He lives in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and for the last 25 years has traveled extensively worldwide photographing diverse aquatic animals, habitats and man's impact on them. He...

Technical information

Shutter Speed
1/8
Focal length
60.0 mm
F-Stop
16.0
ISO
500

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