Despite forecasts to the contrary, it ended up that several inches of snow fell on the area today. I couldn’t resist the urge to pack up the camera and go find things to photograph in the snow. I went downtown in the freezing cold (under 20 degrees Fahrenheit!) and looked for stuff to shoot that I thought looked good with the snow on it. It was a lot of fun and I feel that I got some really good shots. Here are some of the highlights from the trip.
This is a small side street that goes from the city dock toward state circle.
And of course the State House provided photo opportunities.
And here was a bench that was looked so peaceful with snow cover.
One of the big reasons I was looking forward to visiting the National Aquarium was because they have an exhibit right now called Invasion of the Jellies. The exhibit focuses on the massive increase in jellyfish populations and some of the possible causes. Of course it also has numerous jellyfish displays highlighting different common jellyfish.
Jellyfish are one aquatic animal that I have never been able to photograph well. I haven’t had many opportunities, but the times that I did have a chance the pictures either turned out blurry, washed out, or the jellyfish did not stand out in the photograph. Their semi-clear bodies and tentacles make them especially difficult to capture and my hope was that with the large variety of jellyfish on display, I would be able to capture them in all their beauty. I feel like I did, but please feel free to add your own input. With the exception of the first photograph which I did use flash for, the rest of them were captured without flash while using a monopod to provide additional support and stability for the camera.
It would appear that my family is starting a New Year’s tradition, going to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. This year, we got there at opening time and were the second family through the doors. It was great because we were ahead of the crowds and made viewing the exhibits much easier. It was also great for photography, the glass was still clean and not covered in fingerprints. Most of the animals were out and about and made for a lot of great photo opportunities. On this trip I wanted to focus on getting photos without using the flash. Some of the exhibits were too dark, but I was able to capture quite a few without the flash.
This burrfish was jealous of the lion fish I was photographing. He puffed up and stayed that way until I took his photograph!
This is the aforementioned lion fish that the puffer tried to steal the show from.
This is a macro shot of one of the dorsal spines. These are also the spines which will sting if touched.
This photo surprised me. The light was so low that my shutter speed was only 1/5 of a second. I was using my monopod but was not sure that it was be still enough. Fortunately it was!
And now a few more of my favorites.
Wow, it’s been a really long time since I have posted anything here! Well I’m finally back and plan on doing more updated and getting this website up to speed. I just added a page with a flip book style portfolio. It’s a collection of my favorite and best photos from over the years. Check it out and let me know what you think!
Three years ago I started this website as a medium to share my joy of photography with folks on the web. For much of that time, it functioned simply as a gallery. Now, the website is being completely revamped and will include galleries, tips and tricks for improving your photography, and eventually services that I will offer. It is my hope that whenever you visit this site that you will be inspired to capture your world.
Welcome to DWagaman Photography, enjoy your stay and please feel free to look around!
