Marty Essen
@martyessen.bsky.social
Multi-award-winning author of eight books (3 nonfiction & 5 fiction), talent agent, college speaker, activist, adventurer, and photographer.
Website: https://martyessen.com Blog: https://marty-essen.com
Website: https://martyessen.com Blog: https://marty-essen.com
Deb and I are still on our way home from the Galapagos Islands. We’ve had four long flights so far and will soon board our final flight. Are you ready for a Galapagos sea lion kiss? If you saw the cute sea lion photo I posted earlier today, here’s the next photo in the sequence.
#photography #oceans
#photography #oceans
February 9, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Deb and I are still on our way home from the Galapagos Islands. We’ve had four long flights so far and will soon board our final flight. Are you ready for a Galapagos sea lion kiss? If you saw the cute sea lion photo I posted earlier today, here’s the next photo in the sequence.
#photography #oceans
#photography #oceans
Marty’s photo of the day #4956: I'm returning home from an adventure in the Galapagos Islands that exceeded my expectations. I shot thousands photos of the amazing wildlife. This cute sea lion greeted me on one of my shore landings. Wait ‘til you see the sea lion pups!
#photography #nature #oceans
#photography #nature #oceans
February 9, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4956: I'm returning home from an adventure in the Galapagos Islands that exceeded my expectations. I shot thousands photos of the amazing wildlife. This cute sea lion greeted me on one of my shore landings. Wait ‘til you see the sea lion pups!
#photography #nature #oceans
#photography #nature #oceans
This will be my last post for a while. Deb and I are on an adventure, but I can’t say where or for how long. Details to come. In the meantime, here is my favorite reef-scape photo from this past November in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea. Note the bluespotted ribbontail ray near the center.
January 31, 2026 at 9:31 PM
This will be my last post for a while. Deb and I are on an adventure, but I can’t say where or for how long. Details to come. In the meantime, here is my favorite reef-scape photo from this past November in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea. Note the bluespotted ribbontail ray near the center.
Marty’s photo of the day #4955: In my attempt to show you life forms that you’ve likely never seen before, here is some beautiful soft coral.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans
January 30, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4955: In my attempt to show you life forms that you’ve likely never seen before, here is some beautiful soft coral.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans
Marty’s photo of the day #4954: These are feather stars. Despite their plant-like appearance, they are a free-swimming animals related to sea stars and sea urchins. They use their feathery arms to filter food from ocean currents and can crawl or swim by undulating their arms.
#photography #oceans
#photography #oceans
January 29, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4954: These are feather stars. Despite their plant-like appearance, they are a free-swimming animals related to sea stars and sea urchins. They use their feathery arms to filter food from ocean currents and can crawl or swim by undulating their arms.
#photography #oceans
#photography #oceans
Marty’s photo of the day #4953: This is a honeycomb grouper. They are protogynous hermaphrodites that start out as females and change into males later in life. Living up to 50 years, they spawn on nights surrounding the full moon, with eggs released into open water.
#photography #nature #oceans
#photography #nature #oceans
January 28, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4953: This is a honeycomb grouper. They are protogynous hermaphrodites that start out as females and change into males later in life. Living up to 50 years, they spawn on nights surrounding the full moon, with eggs released into open water.
#photography #nature #oceans
#photography #nature #oceans
Marty’s photo of the day #4952: This is a longfin emperor. These fish can shift their coloration from a pale to dark depending on their mood. They also start out as female before becoming male.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #nature
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #nature
January 27, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4952: This is a longfin emperor. These fish can shift their coloration from a pale to dark depending on their mood. They also start out as female before becoming male.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #nature
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #nature
Marty’s photo of the day #4951: This is a school of blackspotted snappers. The apparent attitude of one near the bottom, looking directly into my camera, cracks me up: “Who are you, and what is that thing in your hand?”
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #ocean
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #ocean
January 26, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4951: This is a school of blackspotted snappers. The apparent attitude of one near the bottom, looking directly into my camera, cracks me up: “Who are you, and what is that thing in your hand?”
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #ocean
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #ocean
Marty’s photo of the day #4950: There are approximately 90 species of parrotfish in the world. I couldn’t find this one in any of my ID books or on-line searches.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans
January 25, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4950: There are approximately 90 species of parrotfish in the world. I couldn’t find this one in any of my ID books or on-line searches.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans
Marty’s photo of the day #4949: Golden spadefish undergo significant physical changes as they age. Juveniles have long, crescent-shaped dorsal and anal fins, while adults have shorter, rounded fins and a spade-like body. An . . .
(Tap ALT then tap text for the full post.)
#photography #oceans
(Tap ALT then tap text for the full post.)
#photography #oceans
January 24, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4949: Golden spadefish undergo significant physical changes as they age. Juveniles have long, crescent-shaped dorsal and anal fins, while adults have shorter, rounded fins and a spade-like body. An . . .
(Tap ALT then tap text for the full post.)
#photography #oceans
(Tap ALT then tap text for the full post.)
#photography #oceans
Marty’s photo of the day #4948: This is a flagtail triggerfish. There are about 40 species of triggerfish. They get their name because . . .
(Click ALT and tap text to read the rest.)
#photography #nature #oceans
(Click ALT and tap text to read the rest.)
#photography #nature #oceans
January 23, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4948: This is a flagtail triggerfish. There are about 40 species of triggerfish. They get their name because . . .
(Click ALT and tap text to read the rest.)
#photography #nature #oceans
(Click ALT and tap text to read the rest.)
#photography #nature #oceans
Marty’s photo of the day #4947: Sooner or later—at least for me—every visit to a tropical forest or rainforest produces some sort of stick insect. Here’s the one I found while visiting the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea last November.
#photography #nature
#photography #nature
January 22, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4947: Sooner or later—at least for me—every visit to a tropical forest or rainforest produces some sort of stick insect. Here’s the one I found while visiting the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea last November.
#photography #nature
#photography #nature
Marty’s of the day #4946: This may be hard to see if you are viewing on a small screen. You are looking at a bluespotted cornetfish.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #sealife #oceans
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #sealife #oceans
January 21, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Marty’s of the day #4946: This may be hard to see if you are viewing on a small screen. You are looking at a bluespotted cornetfish.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #sealife #oceans
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #sealife #oceans
Marty’s of the day #4945: My photo yesterday featured ancient Raja Ampat artwork. Today’s Raja Ampat artwork was created last November. When I visited a school in a tiny, remote village, several boys showed off their sand-drawing skills. The boy in this photo was particularly talented.
#art
#art
January 20, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Marty’s of the day #4945: My photo yesterday featured ancient Raja Ampat artwork. Today’s Raja Ampat artwork was created last November. When I visited a school in a tiny, remote village, several boys showed off their sand-drawing skills. The boy in this photo was particularly talented.
#art
#art
Marty’s photo of the day #4944: These Sumalelen Rock Paintings are located on the limestone cliffs of an island in the Raja Ampat. They are estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000 years old.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography
January 19, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4944: These Sumalelen Rock Paintings are located on the limestone cliffs of an island in the Raja Ampat. They are estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000 years old.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography
Marty’s photo of the day #4943: While reef fish are often wary around people, three-striped whiptails are more of an in-your-face kind of fish:
“Hi! What are you? Whatcha doin’?”
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #nature
“Hi! What are you? Whatcha doin’?”
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #nature
January 18, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4943: While reef fish are often wary around people, three-striped whiptails are more of an in-your-face kind of fish:
“Hi! What are you? Whatcha doin’?”
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #nature
“Hi! What are you? Whatcha doin’?”
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #nature
Marty’s photo of the day #4942: I don’t have a positive ID for this butterfly. Many of my ID sources featured butterflies with markings close to this one, but not an exact match.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #nature
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #nature
January 17, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4942: I don’t have a positive ID for this butterfly. Many of my ID sources featured butterflies with markings close to this one, but not an exact match.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #nature
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #nature
Marty’s photo of the day #4941: One thing posting all these photos from the Raja Ampat has done is make me very good at ocean species identification. This juvenile black damselfish was particularly difficult to ID because the adults are either solid black or dark-blue.
#photography #oceans
#photography #oceans
January 16, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4941: One thing posting all these photos from the Raja Ampat has done is make me very good at ocean species identification. This juvenile black damselfish was particularly difficult to ID because the adults are either solid black or dark-blue.
#photography #oceans
#photography #oceans
Marty’s photo of the day #4940: These are feather stars. Despite their plant-like appearance, they are a free-swimming animals related to sea stars and sea urchins. They use their feathery arms to filter food from ocean currents.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat.)
#photography #nature #oceans
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat.)
#photography #nature #oceans
January 15, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4940: These are feather stars. Despite their plant-like appearance, they are a free-swimming animals related to sea stars and sea urchins. They use their feathery arms to filter food from ocean currents.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat.)
#photography #nature #oceans
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat.)
#photography #nature #oceans
Marty’s photo of the day #4939: This is an orange-lined triggerfish.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #sealife
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #sealife
January 14, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4939: This is an orange-lined triggerfish.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #sealife
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #sealife
Marty’s photo of the day #4938: This is an underwater scene. You are looking at green barrel sea squirts. Cool, eh?
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #sealife #nature
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #sealife #nature
January 13, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4938: This is an underwater scene. You are looking at green barrel sea squirts. Cool, eh?
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #sealife #nature
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #sealife #nature
Marty’s photo of the day #4937: Thinking about Minneapolis, my former hometown and favorite large city. If I was there today, I’d be out on the streets with a whistle.
Today’s photo is of a torch ginger in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.
#Minneapolis #ICE #nature #photography
Today’s photo is of a torch ginger in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.
#Minneapolis #ICE #nature #photography
January 12, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4937: Thinking about Minneapolis, my former hometown and favorite large city. If I was there today, I’d be out on the streets with a whistle.
Today’s photo is of a torch ginger in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.
#Minneapolis #ICE #nature #photography
Today’s photo is of a torch ginger in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.
#Minneapolis #ICE #nature #photography
Marty’s photo of the day #4936: A while back, I posted a mediocre photo of a royal angelfish, explaining my failed efforts to capture a quality image of a species that seemed determined to thwart me. Then, while going one more time through . . . (Tap ALT and click text for the rest.)
#photography
#photography
January 11, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4936: A while back, I posted a mediocre photo of a royal angelfish, explaining my failed efforts to capture a quality image of a species that seemed determined to thwart me. Then, while going one more time through . . . (Tap ALT and click text for the rest.)
#photography
#photography
Marty’s photo of the day #4935: I went through my identification books and couldn’t find a sea cucumber that matched this one. Eventually, I concluded that it must be a blue variation of the “black tarzan sea cucumber.” But if that’s the case, why not just call it a “blue tarzan sea cucumber”?
January 10, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4935: I went through my identification books and couldn’t find a sea cucumber that matched this one. Eventually, I concluded that it must be a blue variation of the “black tarzan sea cucumber.” But if that’s the case, why not just call it a “blue tarzan sea cucumber”?
Marty’s photo of the day #4934: This brown tang has found the end of the rainbow! Above the water, it was a beautiful sunny day. This rainbow was an underwater phenomenon only.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #nature
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #nature
January 9, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Marty’s photo of the day #4934: This brown tang has found the end of the rainbow! Above the water, it was a beautiful sunny day. This rainbow was an underwater phenomenon only.
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #nature
(Photographed in the Raja Ampat of Indonesian New Guinea.)
#photography #oceans #nature