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Octopus

Maker Valerie Taylor (born 1935)

Subject or historical figure Valerie Taylor (born 1935)

DateDecember 1993

Object numberANMS1469[362]

NameSlide

MediumColour transparency film

DimensionsOverall (inc carrier): 50 × 50 mm

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Valerie Taylor in memory of Ron Taylor

Terms

DescriptionMolluscs such as the cuttlefish, octopus and squid are cephalopods. Normally what would be the foot of an animal, has become modified into a head-like structure, which is where the term ‘cephalopod’ is derived (“head-footed”). Tentacles line the outside edge of their head which they use to capture their food, aid reproduction and for some species the tentacles help them navigate their underwater environment. Some species are covered by a shell like the nautilus, have a small internal shell like some squid or lack a shell entirely as octopus do. SignificanceThe simplest definition of macro photography is taking a picture of something so that it appears larger than it is in real life. This technique reveals the tiny hidden wonders of our world. In the early 1970s, Ron made Valerie the first known macrophotography set up for an underwater camera, with extension tubes and framers. Her stunning close-up shots of Great Barrier Reef corals were the cover story for the June 1973 issue of National Geographic. With this setup, Valerie was able to take some of the first high quality macro photographs of very small creatures, like the small cephalopod species seen in this archive.