A photographer in Wales has captured the ocean glowing with an eerie blue light caused by tiny bioluminescent plankton. Lee McGrath has been chasing the phenomenon for over five years because of how much he loves capturing it on camera.
Finally seeing the waves lit up against the dark night sky felt strange. “It’s really a surreal experience which I can only describe to be like meditation,” he says. “There is nothing quite like being alone at the beach at 3am with a camera watching this amazing phenomenon.”
What is bioluminescence?
Bioluminescence is caused by tiny plankton in the water. When they’re disturbed by movement, such as crashing waves, they create their own light and make the shoreline light up.
One reason for this could be to protect themselves from their predators: when they sense danger nearby, they light up the sea around them, enticing an even bigger hunter to come and eat their potential predator.
Bioluminescence in Wales
Along with some fellow photographers, McGrath has been following the Welsh bioluminescence and taking photos of it for many years. Once he’d perfected his night photography skills, a lot of it came down to getting to the locations where this can happen, waiting and hoping. “You can only plan so much,” he says.
It takes huge patience to take these types of shots of the natural world. “You could go to the beach another 10 times at the same location and see nothing, it really is pot luck.”
This phenomenon can be seen annually on the South Wales coastline, possibly when the plankton is drawn in by warmer summer waters. “I just think the big question is how many are actively looking,” says McGrath.
How to photograph bioluminescence
For those who would like to try to see this strange occurrence for themselves, McGrath recommends joining an online group to find out where the bioluminescence might be happening and plan your trip from there.
Rather than follow the crowds, McGrath thinks it’s best to be a trailblazer. “Look for beaches where it hasn't been seen, go with no expectations and you may surprise yourself and be the first to spot it in a new location,” he says.
Because the bioluminescence creates light in the ocean, you don’t need a torch to see it. “In fact, it’s the opposite – you will see less and only ruin photos for photographers when they are trying to capture this,” he says.
Taking good photos that accurately represent the magic of the sparkling water is difficult. McGrath has perfected his night photography techniques through taking photos in total darkness in mines, bunkers and train tunnels. He recommends using a high ISO and dropping the sensitivity slightly, to prevent too much noise in the images, if the bioluminescence is strong.
“My settings for the images were ISO2000, F1.4 at 4 seconds exposures but you can get more detail with faster shutter speeds,” he says. “It's a balance really.”
The most important thing, for McGrath is how the amazing experience brings people together and inspires people who aren’t usually interested in the coastline to get outdoors and see this remarkable spectacle. “Just enjoy yourself,” he says.
Safety is an important concern when working with the ocean, especially at night. McGrath stresses the importance of being aware of the conditions and what the tide is doing so you don’t get caught out. “Really be careful, you can get carried away when you see it and lose sight of your position on the beach,” he says.
For McGrath, getting these fantastic shots has only spurred him on to try and take more: “This is on a par with the Aurora,” he says. “Once you see it once, it is very addictive.”
Photography: Lee McGrath | Words: Melissa Hobson
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