Japanese marine life photographer Ryo Minemizu dives deep—literally and artistically—into the mysterious world of plankton. While most of us barely notice these microscopic ocean dwellers, Minemizu turns them into radiant stars of the sea in his stunning photo series Phenomenons. Shot beneath the dark waters of Osezaki near Mount Fuji, as well as along the coastlines of the Philippines and Maldives, his work reveals a side of marine life we rarely see.
Capturing these creatures isn’t easy. Plankton are incredibly tiny, unpredictable, and sensitive to movement. Minemizu sets his camera with lightning-fast shutter speeds and carefully controls his own movement so he doesn’t disturb his glowing subjects. The results are nothing short of magical—tiny, translucent beings suspended in darkness, bursting with unexpected color and detail.
“Plankton symbolize how precious life is by their tiny existence,” Minemizu shares. And when you look at his underwater photography, it’s easy to see what he means. Each image feels like a glimpse into an alien world, full of life forms that shimmer like jewels. By photographing plankton in their natural underwater environment, he offers a rare and respectful look into the foundation of ocean ecosystems.
Minemizu’s amazing underwater photography reminds us that the ocean’s smallest creatures can be its most beautiful—and that life, in all its forms, deserves to be seen.
Select prints from his Phenomenons series are available in his online shop. (via This Isn’t Happiness)
