Green Sea Turtle portrait

This fellow has been in rehab for two years. It has been determined that he's too damaged to return to the wild and fend for himself. He's currently residing at the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research & Preservation and looking for a permanent home. These turtles are normally a darker color. However, the long rehab under artificial lights caused him to lose his "tan".

This shot was taken about 1/3 meter (one foot) from an oblique angle above the tank with a 40D at 320 ISO, EF-S 17-55 IS F/2.8 at F/5.6, 1/250 sec., with a 580-EX II camera-mounted flash. Lens had a hood and circular polarizing filter to reduce room light reflections off the water surface. Camera was hand held, as when these fellows aren't on the move, they're at the bottom of the tank with loads debris and refraction effects. Salt water compels one to be very aware of flipper movements.

It may seem like low contrast, but bumping it up any more would have blown out the details in the skin on the eye brows.

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I absolutely love this shot! It's a shame he's going to be stuck in captivity for the rest of his life, but at least he'll be safe there. What's wrong with him?

Great shot.

Great Shot. Hopefully they'll find a good home for him.

Zipline wrote in post #8936967
I absolutely love this shot! It's a shame he's going to be stuck in captivity for the rest of his life, but at least he'll be safe there. What's wrong with him?

I believe his story is that he was cold-stunned. These fellows come to Long Island, NY waters in their second summer after spending their first couple of years in the Sargasso Sea. The summer waters are comfortable for these tropical reptiles as they feast on spider crabs. However, when the temperature drops, they are supposed to have migrated south. The location of Long Island blocks an easy southerly trip for those that find themselves in Long Island Sound. So some don't get out in time. When the water temperature drops to a certain point, their muscles become paralyzed. The wind blows some of them to shore where they may freeze. Some are picked up by volunteers who patrol the beaches. I believe that this one had freeze injuries that resulted in an inability to establish equilibrium. His back half wants to float. This would hinder his feeding and make him an easy target for predators. Releasing him back into the wild would be a certain death sentence.

All sea turtles are either endangered or threatened and therefore protected by U.S. and international law. Hence the rationale for rescuing them.

More information can be found at http://www.riverheadfo​undation.org/