Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits Look Like Colorful Clouds of Ink in Water

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Thai photographer Visarute Angkatavanich is known for creating stunning, close-up portraits of colorful Siamese fighting fish. Commonly known as betta, the popular domesticated species is native to the Mekong basin of Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. In contrast to their aggressive nature, Angkatavanic’s latest series, titled Betta Paradiso, captures the betta’s captivating beauty as they gracefully swim like dancing ballerinas.

Shot against black or white backgrounds, Angkatavanic’s images highlight the species’ vibrant colors, flowing fins, and sweeping tails. Angkatavanic’s portfolio covers a wide variety of Siamese fighting fish in a range of colors, from pearlescent white to multicolored and fiery red. In some images, they don’t appear like fish at all, but rather swirling clouds of colorful ink suspended in water, or snapshots of flowing pieces of silk. It’s only when the viewer spots an eye, a gill, or a flash of iridescent scales that Angkatavanic’s freshwater subjects are revealed.

If you’re in Singapore, you can see the Betta Paradiso series for yourself at the temporary exhibition, Beauty of Betta, until September 23, 2018. You can also purchase the full series as a book via the Pixniq website.

Thai photographer Visarute Angkatavanich is known for creating stunning, close-up portraits of colorful Siamese fighting fish.

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

His latest series, titled Betta Paradiso, captures the colorful fish as they gracefully swim like dancing ballerinas.

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Their flowing fins and sweeping tails appear like swirling clouds of colorful ink suspended in water…

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

…or snapshots of flowing pieces of silk.

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Siamese Fighting Fish Portraits by Visarute Angkatavanich

Visarute Angkatavanich: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Visarute Angkatavanich.

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Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Staff Writer and Video Editor at My Modern Met. She earned a BA in Fashion and Textile Design at the University of Ulster in Belfast. Originally from Northern Ireland, she lived in Berlin for many years, where she fostered a career in the arts, dabbling in everything from illustration and animation to music and ceramics. She now calls Edinburgh home, where she continues to work as a writer, illustrator, and ceramicist. Her ceramics, often combined with hand-painted animation frames, capture playful scenes that celebrate freedom and movement, and blend her passion for art with storytelling. Her illustrations have been featured in The Berliner Magazine as well as other print magazines and a poetry book.
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