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Jellies!

© Elaine Hessler

Jellies!

Uploaded: July 19, 2012

Description

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Exif: F Number: 10, Exposure Bias Value: -0.33, ExposureTime: 10/1000 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 800, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 22.00 mm, Model: NIKON D5100

Comments

Michael Kelly level-deluxe July 19, 2012

Elain this is a wonderful capture. I have shot at the Montery Bay Aquarium numerous times and it is very difficult to get good clear, well exposed, and sharp pictures do to the difficult lighting, and movement of the various sea creatures along with the problems of the thick fingerprinted glass. You did a terrific job with this one. I like the diagonal comp too. #1475759

Elaine Hessler July 19, 2012

Thanks! You are correct-it was a bit tricky, but it really depended on the jellyfish and the tank they were in. To be honest, there was a little bit of "spray and pray". Many weren't this sharp because the darn things are always moving and the light was a bit dim. This was one of the best aquariums I have been to. Evidently it is really hard to keep them healthy otherwise you'd find them everywhere. They had an awesome exhibit-I highly recommend it! #10236455

Stephen Shoff July 19, 2012

I agree, nicely done. An interesting pictures. #10236495

Jeff E Jensen July 19, 2012

Yup, very cool! #10236744

Debbie E. Payne July 20, 2012

There is one outside do DC in Maryland that is a great aquarium. Allison and I almost went there when we wee in DC. #10237662

Debbie E. Payne July 20, 2012

Got carried away and forgot to tell you what a nice image. There are so many obstacles to low light photography. I don't think I have more than two or three images taken at a aquarium that I would even post.
#10237664

Anthony L. Mancuso July 21, 2012

Great shot under the circumstances Elaine...I have tried shooting at several aquariums and it's never easy to get one this good with all the challenges Mike mentioned going on.. #10238570

Aimee C. Eisaman July 21, 2012

Love the diagonal comp and the way it gives a feel for the direction of movement. Like the others have said a great shot in such low light. I'm not even seeing any noise. Did you work on the noise in editing or did you use a low ISO? :~) #10238616

Elaine Hessler July 21, 2012

Thanks again! The ISO was 800, f/10, 1/100 sec. I was pretty happy I didn't have to go higher with the ISO. These guys were moving, but not as fast as some of the others and they reflected a decent amount of light. I never thought about fingerprints on the glass, but they must have been cleaning all the time because I didn't notice any.

I was looking back to the flipped horse picture and was wondering if this flipped version is more appealing.... Let me know:) #10238778

Aimee C. Eisaman July 21, 2012

I don't care for the flipped version as much. This one works well as originally posted because my eyes are moving with the subject as I enter the frame from left to right. In the flipped version it is like I'm having to fight to get past it so to speak. Does that make sense? #10238857

Rita K. Connell level-classic July 21, 2012

I am very impressed with this shot. the details is very nice, I agree the flip doesn't work for me for the reason aimee said. the other reason it is hard to get image at the Aquarium is because there is so many people and you need to keep moving.

great shot! #10239428

Elaine Hessler July 21, 2012

Thanks for the comments-I am still learning about how we look at photos and why certain things are appealing and some aren't, so thanks for the input! I forgot to tell you all I did was a little sharpening in PSE, no noise reduction was needed. #10239496

Peter W. Marks July 22, 2012

This is fascinating Elaine. I agree with Aimee that the original version is better for exactly the reasons she stated. It is always difficult to explain why an identical flipped image works or doesn't work but she has nailed it. Here in the western world when we look at the text on a page in a book for instance, our eyes immediately focus on the left side of the page to start reading and I guess that habit gets ingrained in us. With the flipped image our eyes stop at the dominant head of the jellyfish and so we tend not to take in the whole scene. I would be really interested to know if someone who is severely dyslexic sees it that way.
I would appreciate a few more details of the set-up you used Elaine. As there are no reflections I am wondering whether you had the front of your lens pressed up against the tank or were using a circular polarizer filter.
An unusual and excellant image. Now do you want to tell me what species this is? :0) #10239704

Elaine Hessler July 22, 2012

Hmm, interesting. How is this image different from the horses? If I am remembering right, your eyes end up on the horses' faces which are on the left in the flipped version.... This is a tough one for me. And would someone from Isreal like my flipped version better? :)

These are spotted jellies and you can read about their cultivation here : http://montereybayaquarium.typepad.com/sea_notes/2010/05/a-look-inside-our-jellyfish-laboratory.html

As for the set up, no polarizer was used and I did get up close to the glass, but did not have my lens flat on it. It was just dumb luck there were no fingerprints or reflections. No flash was used of course. I just used the lowest possible ISO that would still give me a relatively fast shutter speed. I have a few more images from the aquarium that I'll post in the future. I am working on a fun puffin picture right now that needs extensive editing. Dale has been kind enough to tutor me in pse. In this image, I just removed a few specks of "dust" and that was it besides the sharpening. Thanks for your input! #10240097

Aimee C. Eisaman July 22, 2012

In the images of the horses there were many different horses and one of the most interesting ones was laying down in the water and it's head was to the right of the image. Honestly there are no cut and dry rules...each image is different and can have several elements that can hold stock in the outcome. :~) #10240393

Beth Spencer July 22, 2012

I really like your original one the best!!! You did a great job!! I went to this aquarium several years ago when visiting my sister and it was awesome. these are very hard to shoot without reflections and stuff. Great job!! #10240514

Carla Capra Anderson July 23, 2012

This is just fantastic and for all the reasons stated. I too, like your original post. Very well done. Congrats on your EP. #10241042

Elaine Hessler July 23, 2012

Thanks!!! :) #10241065

Aimee C. Eisaman August 30, 2012

Congrats on the beautiful phinalist Elaine....awesome! :~) #10300053

Elaine Hessler August 30, 2012

Thanks Aimee!!! #10300456

Beth Spencer August 31, 2012

Congrats! Way to go! #10301160

JO ANN CLEVELAND September 08, 2012

Perfect timing on this outstanding capture Elaine!

Big congratulations!

jo ann c. #10314222

Elaine Hessler September 08, 2012

THANK YOU! #10314232

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