Monterey Bay Aquarium

[calicokat]

Some shots from the aquarium. Comments appreciated :)

Sheephead
http://calicokat.smugmug.com/photos/60438831-M.jpg

Sea Horses
http://calicokat.smugmug.com/photos/67653800-M.jpg

Calico Bass
http://calicokat.smugmug.com/photos/60438844-M.jpg

Black Sea Bass
http://calicokat.smugmug.com/photos/67653784-M.jpg

Eel Grass and a Garibaldi
http://calicokat.smugmug.com/photos/67653749-M.jpg

Lingcod
http://calicokat.smugmug.com/photos/67653775-M.jpg

A tropical reef scene
http://calicokat.smugmug.com/photos/60438837-M.jpg

And the silhouette of a Leopard Shark
http://calicokat.smugmug.com/photos/67653794-M.jpg

[daniel.sung]

Wow, the colours are wonderful and vivid! How did you get the shots so clear through the glass? Circular polarizer? I've got to give this a go when i get the chance:).

[Reigh Higgins]

Wonderful shots! So clear . Thanks for sharing.

[Livinthalife]

sorry, but when i saw "aquarium" I was automatically assuming some glared, faded,blurred pics. but these are absolutly fantastic for the aquarium. I tried shooting at the aquarium and only ended up like 4-5 shots of the 80 or so i took.

[greg20d]

I agree with Livinlife ...hard to get shots ...what did you do ,must of had a good lens on ..lol

[Dimitri_V]

Some of them look nice but i`m impressed with #7.

[calicokat]

Thank you all for your comments. I did not use a circular polarizer as I was having a tough time with lighting to begin with. To get them clear, I shot straight on into the glass, no angles. I had to move around alot to get a clear shot (clean glass and no people) I used a 1DMIIN and the 24-105L. Went to ISO 800 on some shots. That goodness for image stabilizer, my average shutter speed was less that 1/30th. All these are shots of bright lit areas, I could not get a clear shot off in the Outer Bay exhibit (Tuna, Turtles) and the Yellowtail/White SeaBass exhibit, too dark and the fish were too fast. We are going back in June and I will be taking my 35 F/1.4L and will be using ISO 1600 and 3200 next time. :)

I did see alot of people using flash and their cameras, big no no, the aquarium officials frown on it and it gives you a nasty reflection too. Fast glass, IS and high ISO are the way to go

[Kraig C]

Nice to see that the wave pool with the anemone and grass is still there. I haven't been in such a long time! Do they still have the gift shop with fossil shark teeth and specimine viewer magnified boxes?

[estaswick]

another way to deal with glare is to go buy one of these cheap rubber lens hood (whatdo ya know, they are good for something) and put that right against the glass so no stray light is hitting the glass

[calicokat]

another way to deal with glare is to go buy one of these cheap rubber lens hood (whatdo ya know, they are good for something) and put that right against the glass so no stray light is hitting the glass

Come to think of it, I did see a couple people using the rubber hood things

[Gary Fairhead]

Some of them look nice but i`m impressed with #7.

Yes that number 7 is the special one in the group...light and colors. Nice work!