Many people view corals and anemones as underwater flowers and in some ways they are similar, however just because something looks a certain way doesn't mean that it is what you think it is.
These beautifully mottled creatures are known as Painted Anemones or Christmas Anemones, Urticina crassicornis. These fairly large species of sea anemones are found commonly in both intertidal and subtidal areas.
Its habitat includes a large portion of the coastal areas of the northern hemisphere, mainly polar regions, and can live up to 80 years of age. Along the west coast of British Columbia large aggregations of these anemones can be found in high current area, however the anemones tend to be not a large as the ones found living more solitary lives.
Photographing any anemone is pretty straight forward for the most part because they barely move at all. Set your photo if you can with the sun and the green water in the background for some dramatic results. The vibrant colours of these anemones are spectacular to capture images of and really stand out on the rocks and reefs.
Thanks for reading.
Scott
For more stories and images - http://www.scottstevensonphotography.ca/