The winning picture in "Local Nature #6", an exhibition of nature photography from Israel and around the world currently on display at the Israel Museum, was taken, in the manner of nature photography, by chance - but not completely.
Tour of the Coral Reserve in Eilat (Archive)
Indeed, the sea turtle that appears in it chose on its own to enter the "igloo", a coral nursery structure that was introduced into the sea two decades ago by the staff of the underwater observatory in Eilat; But Dr. Tom Schlesinger, a coral reef researcher and winner of the photography competition for the photo depicted, knew that the moment before him had high photographic potential.
Dr. Tom Schlesinger on the opening night of the exhibition,
"This structure was built by the observatory's guys back in the '90s, and its goal was to rehabilitate injured or sick corals," Schlesinger says of the location he chose to document. "It was built so that they could plant and rehabilitate small corals that had weakened. They are returned to the open sea, and they grow and develop greatly. Over time, other animals were also attracted to it. This creates a real ecosystem of fish, invertebrates, snails, etc. There was just another island of life in the middle of nowhere."
That's how the turtle got there.
"Yes, but the turtle from the picture doesn't live there permanently. He is a temporary visitor. I saw him walking around the area and started to approach him slowly. Then I thought it would be interesting if this turtle came into the building, and I would lie downstairs and take a picture of it. An image that will create an image of wildlife inside a vessel on an open sea. So I went into this structure myself, and after a few moments he just came in, did one swim in front of me like a model on a runway, and in the middle he looked at the camera. Really a lucky moment, but one that you wish for yourself and make it happen."
In a way, you directed it.
"I had some kind of image in my head, and I waited to see if it would come and fulfill it naturally. To catch a good photo or get close to the animals, you can't chase them. If they're curious, they'll come to you. You have to know how to behave next to them, wait patiently, and then these moments are created. Sea turtles by nature are quite a curious animal, only sometimes they shy away from divers. It so happened that he cooperated in an extraordinary way."
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