Stunning View Of Glowing Shrimps Captured On Rocks

Appearing like glowing beads on rocks, sea fireflies were photographed by Tdub Photo in the Seto Inland Sea in Okayama, Japan. They are not the regular shrimps we usually see. They are the bioluminescent shrimps known as Vargula hilgendorfii and commonly called the sea fireflies.

Trevor Williams and Jonathan Gallione, the brains behind the Tdub Photo, presented their photographs in a series called "The Weeping Stones" where the sea fireflies were spread on rocks and appeared like tears. According to Gizmodo, these creatures are three millimeters long and dwell in the bottom of shallow water. They are visible at night.

Trevor and Jon needed to be creative in fishing the sea fireflies out. In their website, they narrated how they caught and photographed them. A fisherman told them that these sea fireflies love mackerel; hence it would be a great bait. However, the duo opted to use raw bacon, which is the best option they found.

They brought jars where they put the bacon. They covered the jars with duct tape to avoid breaking when sank in water. Once the jars with bacon were submerged, the shrimps were expected to be drawn into the bacon's smell. The jars stayed underwater for an hour; and soon after, the contents were poured and spread on the rocks and the glowing shrimps were ready for the photoshoot.

Trevor and Jon said the sea fireflies glow for only 20 to 30 minutes, but pouring water on them when they start fading can bring the glow back. They also recommend putting the jars back in the water while shooting the shrimps. This is to prepare for catching the next batch.

Tdub Photo is a Japan-based photo and video company. More details and photos can be seen in their website. Bioluminescence is one of the most popular biological tricks, making "The Weeping Stones" a hit.