Sailing Photograph - Limited Edition of 1

In strong winds, thousands of Portuguese men o'war are blown onto the coast of NSW, Australia. Rafts of them trapped in a sheltered bay offered me a chance to photograph them. On this attempt I was in the water at sunrise, to catch both the eerie light and the clearer water brought in by high tide. A breeze pushed the animals along like tiny sailing boats, making framing tricky and despite a wetsuit, I didn't manage to avoid stings. Their tentacles are lined with nematocyst stinging cells which fire upon contact. They deliver a painful shock to say the least and their presence often deters beachgoers from entering the water altogether. I wanted to create an image which showed these often despised animals as the beautiful and complex creatures that they are. This image was a finalist in the NHM/BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards 2014. All Limited Edition prints have a 1 inch (2.5cm) white signature border. Hand signed and numbered by Matty Smith. All editions are limited to 100 prints, numbered in ascending order and come complete with a certificate of authenticity and a Hahnemühle Art Registry Number. Printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 100% Cotton Bright White & Archival Pigment

Photography:Color on Paper

Artist Produced Limited Edition of:1

Size:42 W x 22 H x 0.1 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.