I came across the stunning sea urchin photography of Anders Hallan. The way all the urchins are lined up in a grid makes them look like delicately painted confections. Hallan also has incredible close-up photos on his page, showing delicate details of sea urchins you wouldn't normally see this clearly.
From Anders Hallan on Instagram:
"This image appeared in the online version of my National Geographic story, "What creatures make these rare ocean gemstones?" (May 2025), with text by Hicks Wogan. It explores the hidden beauty and ecological importance of sea urchins, animals whose intricate skeletons, or tests, show remarkable richness in sculpture, colour, and texture.
Sea urchins live from the intertidal zone to depths of more than six kilometres, grazing on algae and helping to maintain healthy ecosystems, such as coral reefs. While some species can become problematic when their populations grow unchecked, others face serious threats of their own. Since 2022, a scuticociliate outbreak has caused mass die-offs across several oceans.
My aim in photographing these tests was to show that what we often overlook, or even step on, can be visually arresting, diverse, and complex. Photographs by Anders Hallan at the Sea Urchin Science Centre & Gallery in Kurrajong, Australia. Text by Hicks Wogan. Published by National Geographic, May 8, 2025."
See also: The business end of a sea urchin
