How a Kerala Photographer Captured Underwater Magic with His Phone

Rashid Sheriff has dedicated the better part of two decades working as an auto electrician in Qatar, distant from his native Kerala in south-west India. Yet a simple smartphone has rekindled his youthful passion for photography and drawing, allowing him to capture moments of extraordinary intimacy with the natural world. During a recent visit home to Kerala, Sheriff pointed his iPhone 17 Pro Max underwater to capture images of one of his pet crowntail betta fish, producing a remarkable photograph that demonstrates the remarkable capabilities of contemporary smartphone photography. The intimate photograph, shot by submerging his phone in a ceramic bowl, illustrates how accessible technology has made accessible the practice of macro and wildlife photography for enthusiasts worldwide.

From Childhood Dreams to Digital Reality

Sheriff’s return to photography was neither direct nor rapid. His early love of the craft and drawing developed in his school days, yet circumstances beyond his control forced him to set those pursuits to one side. “Due to multiple obstacles and factors, I couldn’t develop those pursuits,” he shares openly. For eighteen years, his career as an auto electrician in Qatar occupied his days and attention, providing scant opportunity for artistic endeavours. It felt those young aspirations of recording life through photography had been set aside indefinitely, given up for the sake of financial necessity and geographical distance.

The introduction of smartphones, however, has demonstrated revolutionary. These handheld instruments have served as Sheriff’s unforeseen avenue back to artistic endeavours, enabling him to reconnect with passions that had lain dormant for almost twenty years. “My phone allows me to record stunning, unplanned instances with precision, even when they arise suddenly,” he observes. The technology demands no specialist equipment, no expensive cameras or studio infrastructure—just purpose and creative vision. For Sheriff, this accessibility of photographic art has been liberating, permitting him to pursue macro and nature photography without the limitations that once felt impossible to overcome.

• Lifelong enthusiasm for photography and drawing remained unfulfilled for many years
• 18-year career as an auto electrician in Qatar occupied his days
• Smartphones offered a surprising pathway back to artistic expression
• Modern mobile technology democratised access to professional-quality photography

The Craft of Macro Photography on Mobile Phones

Sheriff’s approach to macro photography showcases a deep comprehension of light and composition, principles that translate seamlessly from conventional camera equipment to contemporary mobile devices. His method of submerging his iPhone in water whilst capturing images of the crowntail betta uncovers an unorthodox but successful methodology. By placing his phone at water level and utilising the phone’s zoom and macro capabilities, he achieves an close viewpoint that most photographers would contemplate. This low-angle technique, as Sheriff himself notes, allows viewers to engage with the subject on its own terms, creating a feeling of parity and awe rather than detachment. The final photograph captures not simply a fish, but a living creature with texture, character and presence.

The selection of a white ceramic bowl as his aquatic studio was carefully thought through. The neutral background eliminates visual distractions, allowing the betta’s bright colours and distinctive crown-like fins to command full attention. Sheriff’s grasp of how light behaves in water, paired with his natural understanding of the smartphone’s capabilities, produces an image that rivals professional wildlife photography. The macro mode on contemporary devices has revolutionised what enthusiasts can achieve, revealing details unseen by the naked eye. For Sheriff, this accessibility signifies more than simple practicality—it embodies the opening up of an art form once reserved for those with expensive equipment and formal training.

Advanced Technology Meets Creative Vision

Modern smartphones have evolved significantly beyond simple snapshot devices, featuring sophisticated computational photography systems that compete with dedicated cameras. Sheriff’s iPhone 17 Pro Max includes advanced macro and zoom capabilities that allowed him to capture extraordinary detail whilst submerged in water. The device’s optical stabilization and intelligent processing systems work in concert to produce sharp, well-exposed images even in demanding submerged settings. By inverting his phone and positioning it at eye level with his subject, Sheriff exploited both the hardware’s technical prowess and his own creative intuition. This combination of technical capability and creative vision distinguishes his work from casual mobile photography.

The improvisational nature of Sheriff’s artistic approach belies the technical precision required. Upon waking from an afternoon rest, he avoided overcomplicating the composition or invest time in extensive planning; instead, he acted on instinct to the opportunity before him. This immediacy, enabled by always having a capable camera in his pocket, represents a fundamental shift in how contemporary image-makers work. The smartphone’s accessibility encourages creative exploration and bold choices that might seem excessive with costly gear. For Sheriff, this freedom has reignited his enthusiasm, proving that technical mastery combined with genuine curiosity produces photographs that captivate in viewers and fulfil the creator’s fundamental purpose.

Getting the Flawless Image: Method and Perseverance

Sheriff’s approach to aquatic imaging demonstrates that exceptional results don’t necessarily demand complex setup or expensive expeditions. Upon returning to his residence in Kerala, he identified a chance with one of his personal crowntail betta fish and acted on it with natural ease. Rather than building complex aquatic systems, he used a white ceramic bowl with water and placed his fish within—a modest bowl that would function as the setting for a close-up image. This unpretentious methodology reflects a broader truth about contemporary mobile photography: frequently the most impressive shots result from straightforward, intuitive decisions rather than overwrought technical planning.

The execution itself required a delicate balance of technical knowledge and creative instinct. Sheriff flipped his iPhone and carefully immersed it in the water, employing the device’s macro and zoom functions to capture fine details of the betta’s striking fins. The fish’s ornate fins required precision framing to highlight their complex form and delicate motion. By working at eye level with his subject, Sheriff transformed a ordinary household moment into something extraordinary. His patience in positioning both camera and subject, combined with his command of light and composition, yielded an image that captures not merely a fish, but a moment of genuine connection between photographer and creature.

• Fill a ceramic bowl with water for a regulated underwater environment
• Position fish carefully to guarantee safety and optimal framing
• Invert the smartphone and immerse for at-eye-level viewpoint photographs
• Utilise macro setting to showcase detailed fin details and patterns
• Employ zoom feature selectively to isolate subject from background

Why Low-Angle Photography Makes a Difference

Sheriff’s deliberate decision to shoot at eye level with his subject constitutes a conscious departure from conventional pet photography. Rather than photographing from above, looking down upon the fish as a remote subject of interest, he positions himself at the creature’s level, establishing visual equality and intimacy. This perspective shift substantially alters how viewers perceive and relate to the subject. When we come across creatures from the animal’s perspective, we’re drawn into their world rather than observing them from a place of dominance. The resulting image becomes a shared experience rather than simple record-keeping.

This philosophical framework transcends simple visual appeal; it supports Sheriff’s core artistic vision of building understanding and appreciation. By prompting observers to view from the fish’s eyes, he aims to awaken awe and inquisitiveness about the natural world. Shots taken from low angles and eye level connect us with non-human subjects, removing emotional distance between observer and observed. For Sheriff, this method embodies his fundamental conviction that photographs can foster understanding and reverence for all forms of life, however small or unfamiliar they could appear at first glance to us.

The Crowntail Betta fish: Aesthetic Appeal Beneath the Water

The crowntail betta fish, which Sheriff picked as his subject, constitutes one of nature’s most aesthetically impressive freshwater species. Named for the distinctive crown-like form of its ornate fins, this compact fish combines impressive aesthetic qualities into a small frame. The intricate patterns, vibrant colouration, and delicate fin structures make bettas especially compelling subjects for close-up photography. Sheriff’s decision to focus on this individual specimen enabled him to display the extraordinary detail often missed in passing observation. The fish’s inherent design—those distinctive crown-like dorsal and caudal fins—creates a striking visual story that warrants detailed inspection.

What makes the crowntail betta especially photogenic is the interplay between light and shadow across its body. When submerged and shot at eye-level perspective, the fish’s scales catch and refract light in ways that uncover hidden iridescence and delicate colour variations. Sheriff’s deployment of macro mode and zoom features allowed him to document these nuances with impressive precision, transforming what might otherwise be a straightforward pet image into a study of natural artistry. The ceramic bowl setting he constructed provided a clean, controlled background that accentuates the fish’s form without unnecessary distraction, allowing viewers to admire every fin detail and scale pattern.

Exploring the Fighter Fish

The nickname “fighter fish” comes from the betta’s territorial and aggressive nature, particularly amongst males. In their natural habitat, male bettas participate in elaborate combat displays, spreading their characteristic fins as warnings to rivals. This aggressive behaviour, whilst problematic in communal tanks, has made bettas culturally significant in multiple Asian nations where betta fighting competitions has deep historical origins. However, Sheriff’s photograph celebrates the fish not as a combatant but as an artistic subject, redirecting our understanding away from aggression towards admiration for its natural beauty and grace.

Understanding the crowntail betta’s conduct and physiology enriches our understanding of Sheriff’s photograph. These fish are solitary by nature in their natural state, thriving best in isolation rather than community tanks. Their complex fin presentations serve several functions: territorial assertion, courtship rituals, and responses to anxiety. By taking pictures of his specimen in a basic ceramic container, Sheriff established an setting that honours the fish’s natural solitary disposition whilst ensuring the best possible environment for photographing its most spectacular displays. This deliberate strategy shows regard for the fish, maintaining the fish’s health whilst attaining artistic quality.

Mobile Phones as Artistic Instruments for Modern Photographers

For Rashid Sheriff, the smartphone has transformed into considerably more than a communication device—it functions as a pathway towards artistic pursuits he was compelled to give up in the past. Operating as an vehicle electrician in Qatar for close to twenty years, Sheriff experienced his creative goals restricted by limited circumstances and resources. The advent of modern smartphone technology, especially sophisticated camera systems and computational photography capabilities, has opened up professional-quality image capture in ways previously unimaginable. Today’s flagship devices rival dedicated cameras in their technical performance, offering macro capabilities, zoom features, and advanced processing algorithms that enable photographers to achieve their creative vision without considerable financial commitment or specialist equipment.

Sheriff’s method to subaquatic imaging exemplifies how modern mobile devices have pushed the limits of what’s artistically achievable. By merely immersing his iPhone and leveraging its integrated magnification and telephoto capabilities, he achieved results that would have demanded costly protective casings and professional-grade gear just ten years prior. His success underscores a broader shift in photography where technical limitations no longer dictate artistic possibility. The mobile device’s availability has allowed photographers globally to investigate specific disciplines like macro and nature photography, transforming ordinary scenes into compelling visual narratives. Sheriff’s journey illustrates how technological democratisation can revive forgotten interests and enable artists to make significant contributions to contemporary visual culture.

• Sophisticated macro capabilities allow unprecedented detail capture in small subjects
• Digital zoom with advanced processing deliver clarity without specialist telephoto equipment
• Waterproof designs permit experimentation in demanding conditions safely
• Smartphone accessibility removes cost obstacles to high-quality professional imagery