While strolling along the shore of Larak, Iran (a small island in the Persian Gulf), Pooyan Shadpoor came across some luminous plankton that had washed up to shore.
Shadpoor wrote this about the glowing scene, “The “magical lights of [the] plankton … enchanted me so that I snapped the shot,”
He then uploaded it onto National Georgraphic’s Your Shot page. (And his photo was named Photo of the Day). Shadpoor profile
Photo Source:
Pooyan Shadpoor
Your Shot, National Geographic
On this page, amateur photographer upload their art while telling a story of what they’ve seen.
Specific assignments are given and there is a timeline to submit photos.
What you see in Shapoor’s photo are single celled organisms called dinoflagellates. They sometimes wash up on shores and give the appearance of glitter. Walk in them and your footsteps will shine.
Why do they sparkle? It’s a defense mechanism called bioluminescence (used to escape predators). The chemical process that it undergoes is similar to what happens in a glowstick.
When the plankton are disturbed, they light up-even if it’s just for a moment. They glow brighter depending on the intensity of the disturbance.(The most severe reactions are often caused by boats).
Numerous species of phytoplankton are known to do this. And it can happen worldwide.
If you’re out for a stroll on the beach,it might be a good idea to keep your camera handy.