Melanie Müller. Yin Yang.
Off the coast of Guraidhoo, Maldives, two reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) display their typical feeding behaviour: They circle backwards through the water to filter zooplankton. Fascinated by this unique “dance”, I observed these two individuals for a while until they swam closer to each other. I took the chance, held my breath and dove down to capture the moment, that reminded me of Yin and Yang. Reef manta rays are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. I hope this image inspires people to reflect on their relationship with marine life and how we as humans need to find balance with nature in order to survive.
Melanie Müller is a wildlife and conservation photographer from Germany. She lived in Spain, Lebanon, Dominican Republic and Guatemala, and experienced both wild places of endless biodiversity as well as human-shaped environments with nature in total crisis. Her photos of the endangered Antillean manatee were exhibited in the Dominican Museum for Natural History, among others.
Follow Melanie on Instagram @melaniemuellerphoto.
