Sea fans are a type of gorgonian, usually seen swaying gracefully in the ocean's surge. This close-up of a sea fan reveals the intricate detail and vivid red color of its structure.

It is difficult to photograph an underwater object this closely while showing the blue water in the background. To achieve this effect, I photographed a sea fan growing sian is created by a strong back light, with only a touch of light on the front--a tricky shot due to the inherent scatter in any back-lit underwater photo. I photographed this specimen in the Cayman Islands.