5th Place Portrait

Ilaria Mariagiulia Rizzuto

"Mr. Bo"

The Story:

A tiny goby peeks out from its refuge within a brain coral in the warm waters of the Anilao-Philippines. Its vivid orange body stands out against the coral's mesmerizing fluorescent greens and purples, which seem to glow with life under the soft light. Every detail of this scene, from the hypnotic texture of the coral to the goby's large, cautious black eyes gazing back at me, tells a story of perfect harmony between creature and habitat. Capturing this moment required infinite patience: I remained completely still, waiting for the goby to grow comfortable with my presence, knowing that even the slightest movement would send it retreating into its shelter. This intimate glimpse into the underwater world offered a profound connection with one of its most delicate and fascinating inhabitants.

Location:

Anilao, Philippines

Equipment Used:

• Sony A7r5
• Sony 90mm macro
• Marelux housing
• Marelux Soft pro
• Inon 330x1

Camera Settings:

• Iso 125
• f/18
• 1/200