Sea ‘em smiling!

Did you ever see a cow sitting on it’s bum? Did you ever see a crocodile cry? Or did you ever really see a grinning cat? Most of you haven’t. Just like me. But as a photographer at several dive sites in the world I’ve noticed that fish do smile occasionally. In fact, complete schools are really laughing at you. These series are about happy fish. What drive them makes you even more happy. Enjoy and have fun with our laughing underwater fauna.

Words and images by René van Stekelenborg, www.prvanstekelenborg.com

The Parrotfish

Really, a parrotfish is the biggest smile in any sea. They’re quite funny because of their beak shaped mouth. And they’re colorfull, and busy chasing other fish. Just pleasant creatures to watch.

Curious bastards

The truth is... this is a misprint really. When I’m trying hard to focus at one typical object, these curious little bastards just swim right in front of the lens. I think that’s funny. And, regarding the faces of these little fish, they find it really funny too.

In my face...

The Picasso triggerfish

Triggerfish can be mean little motherf***ers. They will defend their territory. But the swagger that comes with it is so hilarious. And then, of course, the way they look is so sixties comics styled, that’s why the Picasso Triggerfish is my favorite. To get the story totally right they should wear capes, a funny hat and have a little sword.

The underwater chipmunk

the Red Sea lady

It isn’t because of their gorgeous teeth. It is about their botoxed lips. Once I’ve seen this fish, I’ve seen all the Hollywood women trying to be like her. And she doesn’t even have the faintest idea.

Triggerhappy

Seriously, these buggers will damage your fins. They defend their eggs at the bottom by choosing a 120 degrees angle. So don’t try to ascend in a straight line. Stay horizontally and swim away, otherwise you’d keep being bothered by this triggerfish.

 

Credits: All photos were taken with a Panasonic Lumix TZ1, a Canon Powershot GX-1 and a Nikon D3000 from 2008 until 2011 in the Dominican Republic, at Cuba, at Koh Tao in Thailand, at Curacao, the Dutch Antilles, at Isla Mujeres, Mexico, at Dahab, Marsa Alam, Abu Dabab and Taba, Egypt.

www.prvanstekelenborg.com