King of the Aquatic Jungle

King of the Aquatic Jungle

ATLA12D-212

March 18, 2012

I do like themed weeks; it gives some structure to the week, helps introduce topics, and allows me to sort through the 9000+ images held here.  So, with a look back to my recent visit to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta with my fiancée Sarah, this is Aquarium Week 2012!  This lionfish was strutting his stuff across the tank (obviously, all of this week's images will be of captive animals.  Please keep that in mind, I didn't dive to get these images... yet), and apparently is quite the invasive species in the southeastern United States.  Despite finding him in a tank, they are quite incredible creatures to watch; I don't think I've seen so many fins on an fish.  And knowing that each of the spines on his dorsal fin and anal fins is basically a hypodermic needle with a powerful neurotoxin makes him seem a bit less cuddly.  Enjoy.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 50 mm f/1.4

Focal length:  50 mm

Exposure: 1/60 @ f/4   ISO 640

Post-processing: Minor tone adjusted with PS 4 and LR 1.4.

Marine Still Life

Marine Still Life

WASH07D-17

December 25, 2007

Sticking with Washington today, this time a silly little still-life from the coast.  While out hiking near on the Dungeness Spit, Washington, there was this riot of kelp along the sand.  Masses of algal tubes and fronds were intertwined on the shore, and there was this single blue stone, obviously having spent some time in the ocean with its toupee of seaweed still clinging to the top.  But I thought the contrast in color made a great little still-life of the sea, and so here it is for you to admire and think of the vast Pacific ocean.  Enjoy.

 

Technical notes:

Camera: NIkon D80

Lens: Nikon 18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal length: 85 mm

Exposure: 1/60   f/5.6  ISO 800 

Post-processing: Slight texture,toning and curves adjustment in PS4

Mossy Rocks

Mossy Rocks

ALAK08D-38

July 23, 2008

There are those pictures you come back to when you've had time away, revisiting the collection that gets shuffled away on the hard drive, and a certain picture strikes you like it didn't before.  That is how I feel about this image.  I took it, loving the matted pattern of the moss on these rocks in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.  But looking at it at first glance it was flat and boring.  Upon reflection, coming back to it this week as I perused the Alaska images, while it was still flat, I loved the soft green tones that ran throughout the frame, from the light grassy notes to the dark forest or moss greens.  It was peaceful, a still life from the sea, the conglomeration of rocks and their hairy coverings.  So I decided to send it up here for everyone to see.  Enjoy.
 

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens:Nikon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6

Focal length: 48mm

Exposure: 1/40   f/5   ISO 200

Post-processing: Toning and curves adjustment in PS4