Two underwater photographs of nudibranchs by Jim Knowlton will be exhibited along with other nature related art in an exhibit at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks, CA.  The exhibition, titled, Nature Observed: Painting, Sculpture, Photography & Prints will open Saturday, May 26 and run through Monday, September 3, 2007.  The exhibition is presented by the Museum of Ventura County at their satellite location in The Oaks Mall at 402-B Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360.  Call 805-496-7460 for more information. 

Jim photographed the two nudibranchs while diving in February 2006 near Santa Rosa Island, located within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of California.  During the two-day trip, he photographed 12 species of nudibranchs, all of which are about and inch or two long. 

Nudibranchs are essentially snails without shells, and their name literally means “naked gill.” In most species, the gills are prominently displayed on their dorsal surface.  Their bright coloration is believed to warn potential predators that nudibranchs are strongly scented and can have stinging cells called nematocysts stored in their finger shaped gills.  Nudibranchs have a pair of tentacles located on top of their heads, which biologists believe are used as sensory organs to assist in finding food and seeking a mate.






Jim used a Fuji S2 digital camera in an Aquatica underwater housing, a Nikon 60mm macro lens, and two Nikonos 105 strobes to capture these images.