Coral Reef under Sunbeams

A sandy channel winds between coral outcrops beneath clear shafts of sunlight. Pink sea fans rise on the left, branching orange coral crowds the foreground, and rounded colonies fill the right side with small changes in color and texture. Tiny fish move through the open water above the reef rather than forming a tidy row.

The pale sand gives the middle of the picture a useful route from front to back. Start there, then work out into the coral shapes by looking for branch direction and shadow. The fish are small, but their orange, black and yellow marks make good landmarks once the larger reef sections are joined. Blue water and scattered light complete the upper corners.