Trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium

[APFparadise]

Had a great trip. Monterey Aquarium was fun, though I expected it to be bigger. I would say if you had gone to the Long Beach Aquarium, it is very similar in style and selection.

Here are a few of my shots. I shot with my good ol' 20D, using mostly 24-70L, though a few of the smaller critters got the 100mm treatment. Mostly flash (either with STE2, or on camera with Lightsphere) but a few, like the jellies, were done available light ISO 1600.

A face even a mother would not love:
http://egfoto.com/gallery/aqua/Monterey%20Aquarium/monterey01.jpg

Don't come near my toy:
http://egfoto.com/gallery/aqua/Monterey%20Aquarium/monterey03.jpg

Yummy!
http://egfoto.com/gallery/aqua/Monterey%20Aquarium/monterey06.jpg

Home is where.... oh, yeah, I am carrying it:
http://egfoto.com/gallery/aqua/Monterey%20Aquarium/monterey12.jpg

Jelly:
http://egfoto.com/gallery/aqua/Monterey%20Aquarium/monterey17.jpg

Synchronized Jellying:
http://egfoto.com/gallery/aqua/Monterey%20Aquarium/monterey19.jpg

You can see the rest in the "Monterey Aquarium" Section of my gallery at http://egfoto.com/aqua/

[steve68]

Cool pictures i was there 5 years ago & it was cool!!!

[jwedehase]

Alright, I've asked over in your forums before, but it seems to have changed. What are you doing, specifically, for lighting? While I wouldn't dare have anything but ultimate praise for that lens, I'm convinced nice, even lighting is the answer to what makes your shots so spectacular.

[petoonia]

Those are beautiful pics!

[APFparadise]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8062231#post8062231 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jwedehase
Alright, I've asked over in your forums before, but it seems to have changed. What are you doing, specifically, for lighting? While I wouldn't dare have anything but ultimate praise for that lens, I'm convinced nice, even lighting is the answer to what makes your shots so spectacular.

Most of the shots in this series (except for the jelly shots which were done using available light and 1600 ISO) were produced using a 580ex flash held by my assistant (my wife :) ) triggered remotely using STE2 wireless controller. It's tough in public aquaria, 'cause you can't always hold it straight down. But by raising the flash higher, you can achieve almost straight down light, which illuminates the area evenly. Takes a bit of patience and trial and error.

I also shoot 100% RAW, so a little (not as much as some thing) cleanup in photoshop makes the unforseen blemishes not so visible.

I Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask, I am 100% open, no secrets here at all. We have invited people with us to our Aquarium trips, you can see exactly what I do.

[JR719]

What camera and lens are you using, along with the flash?
Great pics if I might say. Extremely great pics.

[APFparadise]

Thanks, JR, look at the initial post, all described there.

[jwedehase]

I would think that a flash, regardless of position, would create harsh shadows. You've shown that not to be the case. Are you still using that PhotoJournalist diffuser bulb/thing? I use a Sto-Fen, and I know you've mentioned your new diffuser smokes the Sto-Fen.

I'll have to pay closer attention to your shoot schedule. I'm up in the Fresno area, just a couple hours north of you. I'm headed to MBA next weekend, as well. I'd really like to actually see what it is that you're doing with your lighting.

[APFparadise]

Well I am in SoCal. I am more likely to go to the Long Beach Aquarium. I was on a vacation in Napa and went to Monterey on the way there. :)

Re: diffusers, they dont work when you are trying to shoot light from the top down. Harsh colors happen when you are using a lightsource that is "unnatural" like pointing the flash at the fish, which reflects weird off the scales and conflicts with the ambient lighting already present in the tank. When you shoot from the top down, you are simulating natural daylight, or tank lighting that makes your eye see the fish the way it does, except at a MUCH higher wattage output in a short burst. Imagine putting several MH fixtures next to each other in a small area, and lighting the small area of the tank where you want to shoot. You wont need flash, right? Flash does that same thing, but in a burst. That burst is enough, because it's still longer than the shutter speed of the camera.

[thor32766]

nice pics

[jwedehase]

BTW, insider tip: If you want to see these jellies, get in there soon. They won't be there much longer. They're going to replace them with some new exhibit. This actually saddens most of us, as well as the staff, as the jellies are actually the most popular exhibit in the entire place.

[boostd2valve]

very nice pics, makes me want to go!

[125reef]

I got the same set up on my 30D. Did you feel or get any negativity by people and/or employees using your flash system. Im a Marine Bio and Coastal Ecology major at Cal State Monterey Bay and Im at the aquarium regularly, but never dare take pictures due to flash system I have. What do you think?

[gho]

Nice pics!

Here's one I shot at the Monterey:

http://www.ximinasphotography.com/galleries/albums/children/20060531%20135822%209714.jpg


Of course, my daughter takes better pics than me...
http://www.pbase.com/ximina/image/65112760.jpg

[beerguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8067014#post8067014 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 125reef
I got the same set up on my 30D. Did you feel or get any negativity by people and/or employees using your flash system. Im a Marine Bio and Coastal Ecology major at Cal State Monterey Bay and Im at the aquarium regularly, but never dare take pictures due to flash system I have. What do you think?

There are a few areas where you're not supposed to use flash for the benefit of the animals. (Outerbay exhibit, sea dragons, octopus, etc....) I've never gotten grief for using a flash outside of those areas.

[subijitsu]

Great pics. I really love the jellyfish display they have there. Just awesome.

[jwedehase]

Also, they just got their Great White Shark in! I can't wait until next weekend!

[MJT36]

Wow... I'm jealous!

[APFparadise]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8067014#post8067014 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 125reef
I got the same set up on my 30D. Did you feel or get any negativity by people and/or employees using your flash system. Im a Marine Bio and Coastal Ecology major at Cal State Monterey Bay and Im at the aquarium regularly, but never dare take pictures due to flash system I have. What do you think?

Not really using flash, but when you setup and want to take a series of 5-10 shots, there is always someone behind you going "we'd like to see this too" like it's about to close or something. I have never taken more than 2 min to take pics but some people are just in a hurry.

[125reef]

APFparadise, were all shots are hand held? A tripod would just be a PITA, especially with so many people around..... just wondering.

[rbaker]

Awesome shots! It's been several years since I've been to MBA. Your pictures make me want to call my travel agent... :D

[APFparadise]

All handheld, no room for tripod.

Went with a friend, you can see his gallery of the trip http://www.pbase.com/ebn/aug_24_2006 (here.)

Mine can be seen at http://egfoto.com/gallery/aqua/ and then choosing Monterey Aquarium from the menu.

[jwedehase]

No room for a tripod, huh? Not even if you're willing to get in peoples' ways? I was planning on taking the tripod, but am willing to save some load if you say there's no way....

[APFparadise]

if you GOTTA, I would suggest a monopod. Something you just balance in front of you, without having to setup legs. Or go in the morning mid week, maybe you will get lucky and it will be empty. No such luck for me, it was swarming with tourists.

[AdidaKev]

Those are some gorgeous pictures. I like your captions, too. :)

[thor32766]

yeah nice pics!

[APFparadise]

Thanks everyone,

here is another shot, close up on the crab. The detail on his body is amazing, and I was really happy with the shot because there were not any "hot" spots on it.

http://egfoto.com/gallery/aqua/Monterey%20Aquarium/monterey02.jpg

[jwedehase]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8089997#post8089997 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by APFparadise
[B]... I was really happy with the shot because...

Because it's great! Great shot!

This coming weekend, I'm renting the Canon 17-40 f/4L. It's not the 24-70 I wanted, but my local shop doesn't rent that lens. I've never shot through an L-Series, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what these lenses are made of. My only gripe is the slow speed, but I have to take what I can get. The only other decent option was the 70-200 f/2.8L IS, but I think that's going to prove a little too long for an aquarium.

[haitwun]

who is going to be the first to put up their pic of the great white?

[125reef]

Hey Jason, I got your PM. Did you ever get my reply? I haven't heard from you so I'm just wondering.

[haitwun]

Monterey Bay Aquarium is the greatest place in the world!

There is nothing in the world that can compare to SEEING A GREAT WHITE FLY! He shot out of the tank and was airborne for 3 seconds!!! It was incredible.

Here are a couple of my pics. *sigh* I gotta get myself a canon.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a250/haitwun/Picture398.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a250/haitwun/Picture423.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a250/haitwun/Picture429.jpg

[jwedehase]

Haitwun! You were there when it happened, too? Nice, I walked in just as it happened. (Or he's done it more than once now. The staff was concerned/shocked when it happened). Saturday evening around 5:30pm, or so?

Anyway, here's the best I could muster. Crowds were HEAVY at this tank, go figure.

http://www.cvreefers.org/gallery2/d/28476-1/greatwhite.jpg

[haitwun]

Yeah, around 5 PM-ish Saturday! I saw the whole thing. He worked his way to the bottom of the tank, turned 90 degrees and shot up out of the water. 3 seconds later, he slashed back in head first. Quite a sight to behold! I started clapping and the room followed suit.

[jwedehase]

Here's my cleanest shot of the weekend.

http://www.cvreefers.org/gallery2/d/28610-1/pacific+anemone.jpg

[APFparadise]

very nice shot, did you use flash or did you manage to get that w/out. Can't tell, the colors are very good.

[125reef]

Very nice! Jason, did you shoot jpeg or raw? What kind of PP?

[jwedehase]

Canon 20D, Canon 17-40 F/4L, no flash.
ISO 100
17mm
f/6.3
2.5" exposure

I wish I had shot RAW, honestly. Just highest quality. Post processing was removal of some junk (very minimal, honestly. Biggest offender was a single reflection in the black area), crop, sharpen, color correct.

This is the first time I've ever shot any "L" lens, and I wasn't sure I was seeing a difference. I usually shoot the 28-135mm, and it's worked out pretty well. However, in PP, I saw the difference. There was much less tweaking, and a much lighter use of unsharp mask.

[Ebn]

Been awhile since I've been on here. :)

Nice seeing you again Ed. It was fun shooting with you, and now that the great white is there, I'm gonna head back there to check it out. :)

[APFparadise]

can I come :) :) :) Maybe in November :)

[thor32766]

wow, that is so cool. I would love to see a great white in person

[Ebn]

Haha, if you're thinking about it, register for the convention soon, Ed. Part of it includes a behind the scenes tour of the MBA that you won't normally see. :)

It's limited to 50 people only and last time I checked, there was only a couple of spaces left.

[APFparadise]

Aright, you got me, I signed up. See you in November :)

[SuperNerd]

Ugh...I can't believe I missed that during my roadtrip... :(