Opportunistic – Snaps that inspire
Photographer Justin Hofman was leading an underwater dive when currents started picking up and waste started drifting past. A colleague pointed out a tiny seahorse trying to get a hold on some sea grass but it kept losing its grip. As they watched, the seahorse latched onto a piece of rubbish – a pink plastic cotton bud – and Justin was able to capture this image for all to see.
He said he wished the image had never been there, but as it was, he was determined to share it, and the success of his image in the 2018 National Geographic photography awards demonstrated the enormous value of this snapped image.
The image formed part of the Nat Geo’s touring exhibition and through the exhibition and with it going viral online, it will have been seen by millions.
The image very clearly reminds us that our rubbish can end up in the marine environment. It prompts us to think about our rubbish and firstly to reduce the rubbish we purchase and dispose of, and then to ensure, if we do need plastic, we dispose of it thoughtfully.
