Monterey Bay Aquarium -- 20th Anniversery

[ian408]

Last night was the Monterey Bay Aquarium's 20th Anniversery party.
Members were invited to some music, a speech from Julie Packard
(Executive Director) and a series of book signings by such luminaries as
Peter Benchley, author of 'Jaws'; David Doubilet, National Geographic
Society photograper and Ray Troll, Artist.

Flash photography is discouraged, especially at the Outer Bay Exhibit.
Because of that, I chose not to take a flash. Because it was a special
event, I also left the monopod in the car. In hindsight, both of these
items would have been acceptable.

I shot handheld, F2.8 at ISO 1600. The aquarium is incredibly dark in the
evening. As a result, not a lot of good pictures.

Here are a few samples.

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/10250519-M.jpg

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/10250518-M.jpg


http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/10250521-M.jpg

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/10250522-M.jpg

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/10251193-M.jpg

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/10251195-M.jpg

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/10250520-M.jpg


This outing was an incredible learning experience for me. Though I am not
that happy with the result.

Ian

[gubbs]

I missed these,
looks like an awsome place but really tough to photograph.

I like the the Tuna but prefer this one:
http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/10250522-S.jpg

[Dee]

I love watching the jelly fish, but the moon jellies are so intricate and lacy looking it's just fascinating to me to just stand there and watch them. Almost hypnotic or meditative.

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/10250522-M.jpg

This looks so odd without the usual crowd of 4 deep people in front of it.

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/10250520-M.jpg

[pathfinder]

I enjoyed your story about the Monterey Aquarium. As you said, they tend to be darker than they seem visually and require higher ISOs. Shooting wide open at ISO 1600 can be good for you tho:D ......

The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga in the evening is very dark indeed.
f3.2 1/60th ISO 1600
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/10897890-L.jpg

f2.8 1/30th ISO 1600
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/10932579-L.jpg

f3.2 1/100th ISO 1600
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/10897500-L.jpg

The decreased noise in the Canon sensors - 20D and 1DMkii - make ISO 800 and 1600 very useable. These images have NOT been Noise Ninja'd either.

I have a few more images from the Tennessee Aquarium here
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/gallery/274944

I have read about the Monterey Aquarium, and I can see that I need to get to Kalifornia and see it . :clap

[ian408]

pf, these are great shots! i'd agree with you on the sensor's abilities. it's a wonderful
camera to shoot with in the dark.

ian

[pathfinder]

pf, these are great shots! i'd agree with you on the sensor's abilities. it's a wonderful
camera to shoot with in the dark.

ian

I always envied David Doubilet when I would read articles in National Geographic with images he was shooting underwater. 20 years ago I shot slide film underwater with a Canon F1, and had fantasies of making a living that way. Fortunately I did not give up my day job. This is the best I could do back then in 1980..
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/3190066-L.jpg

http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/3858878-L.jpg

[ian408]

I learned to dive from Karl and Jill Wallin. They managed to figure out how to
pitch the school pictures business and run with the dive store/uw photo
trip gig.

Me? I could never afford the required equipment. But I did get to meet some
pretty cool people. Like Al Giddings and Chris Newbert.

Ian