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:

Don't come near my toy:

Yummy!

Home is where.... oh, yeah, I am carrying it:

Jelly:

Synchronized Jellying:

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:

Of course, my daughter takes better pics than me...

 

[BlueCorn]

<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.