Sunday, May 29, 2011

Aquarium of the Pacific

orange jellyfish
clownfish trio
pair of sharks
viewing area
crowd
clownfish
parrot

We spent the afternoon going through the different rooms in the aquarium. We petted sting rays, star fish, parrots and sharks.

viewing

My favorite room in the Aquarium was the Jellyfish room. Aren't they just so pretty?

white jellyfish
children
mini seahorse

Later that night, we went to a carnival. It was such perfect scenery, with all of the flashing lights and people on rides. I was tempted to take my camera with me but I decided to leave it in the car. I wanted to have fun and enjoy the moment. To really live it.

Sometimes I get so caught up with taking pictures that I often forget to really take in my surroundings. What are your thoughts? Does this ever happen to you?

On this particular trip to the aquarium, I kept this in mind. I limited taking a lot of photos and only took pictures of the things that really intrigued me. The result? Better photos and more time having fun. I'm much happier now that I found a balance.

I had no idea people had the same thoughts as me until I read this post over at Sweet Symphanie. With that being said, I leave you with this quote:

"Last night, driving back from Boston, I lay back in the car and let the colored lights come at me, the music from the radio, the reflection of the guy driving. It all flowed over me with a screaming ache of pain.... remember, remember, this is now, and now, and now. Live it, feel it, cling to it."


(Taken from The Journals of Sylvia Plath.) Have a great Labor Day weekend everyone!

28 comments:

tasha faye said...

wow! <3 these photos are breathtaking, love! especially the ones of the jellyfish. such a wonderful job! (: and i have struggled for abit to keep my time split between the photographs i take and for me to just enjoy. i'm almost there, i suppose. (: glad that you had such a grand time, i'd love to go to the aquarium! xxx

MissBuckle said...

I love the jellyfish :-)

Anita said...

Amazing amazing photos :3 I haven't visited the aquarium in since a long time, seeing your photos makes me want to visit one right this second. I love the one with all the Clownfish, it reminds me so much of Nemo. And I agree with your post about dividing your time between taking pictures and having fun. I find that I always bring my point-and-shoot everywhere I go but I may not end up using it. But sometimes I get a little carried away when I go travelling because I want to remember every aspect of that trip for future years to come, if that makes any sense haha. Have a lovely week :-)

Kristin E Bazan said...

ooohhh those jellies are BEAUTIFUL! i looooove going to aquariums. it's my goal in life to go to one in every city i visit.

LCR said...

looks like an awesome trip, and beautiful words to accompany the photos. It IS so important to soak up the present, and not get too wrapped up in thinking or taking photos:)
Great points.
xo
L

Anonymous said...

Jellyfishes are my favorite, too! I could spend hours staring at them!

Jane said...

I love taking, and looking at, aquarium photos. Yours turned out great.

I love carnivals as well, but I totally get why you didn't take your camera - sometimes you just want to get into what you're doing instead of spending the whole time taking pictures!

Olga said...

Amazing photos, each and every one! The last one is so adorable and touching :) Also a great post on the subject of living in the moment. In my experience, I can say that taking photos actually help me experience the moment deeper.

galatea. said...

the jellyfish shots are incredible, and i'm luvin' the hues and tones of these pics- very well done x

Unknown said...

i love aquariums!

Unknown said...

Love that first shot.

A Lost Feather said...

i love the clown fishhhhh.. and yeah the jelly fish photo is pretty great.. they are so nice to look at, but only when they're behind glass. i got stung a few times swimming in the sound.. boo.

i definitely try to limit the photos so i can enjoy the present.. buuutt at the same time.. photography is something we love to do.. so i don't think it's bad to always have a camera :)

A Lost Feather said...

ooo and on that note.. i don't spend any time looking at my photos (if i'm shooting digital) if i'm with friends that want to see how they look or whatever- too bad! take the photo.. done. hehe that drives me insaaaannnee.

tattina said...

Beaughtiful photos!
It's important to keep all these moments in memory, but camera gives such an opportunity.
Thank you, Brenda!

[sen.siˈʝes] said...

beautiful. the jellyfishs look so surreal.

Brenda said...

Thank you ladies for your thoughts! I agree with all of you.

Kristin: That's an awesome goal! It would be interesting to see so many different aquariums :)

Amy @ AGirlCalledBeloved said...

WOW! I loved how you captured all the fish and animals. I really love the jellyfish though. They are just so neat!

Michael Valčić said...

Great shots! Makes me want to visit an aquarium soon.

I use to take too many pictures before as well. I would go somewhere, take a ton of shots, come home and find that only a handful would be good.

Since I've mainly switched over to film for about 90% of my work, I often find myself being more careful with what I shoot. I no longer have a memory card that can hold hundreds of photo files, but only a film cassette that holds 36 or 24 frames. Knowing that I only have a very limited amount of frames per film, it really makes me concentrate more and the result is a higher ratio of pleasing photographs.

Have a good day! =)

Tang said...

Great photos! :) I love it! Where is this aquarium? I'm also like that whenever I travel. I'm all caught up in trying to capture everything I forget to look!

Also love your list of places to visit. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh, that's exactly what keeps me from photographing more or always taking my camera with me... I'm afraid not to be able to enjoy the moment or not to be able to notice everything because I would be looking through the camera lense all the time... But I think your resolutions at the aquarium are a great compromise how to get lovely pictures but still have time to just enjoy.
By the way: I absolutely LOVE seahorses and had to smile when I saw your picture of one :)

Melina said...

WOW, these pics are soooo beautiful!
love it!
xx

Li + Belle said...

I love the jellyfish room. The jellyfish look so fine and soft, and move so elegant. Beautiful. And the seahorses are so sweet.

Miss A said...

Hello there! It was so sweet of you to leave a comment wondering where I was :) These pictures are awesome! I love the little Nemos xD And the jellyfish room! There's something very elegant about jellyfish :)

Stephanie said...

Love your thoughts!

Fransisca Angela said...

I really love this post. these pictures are really beautiful!
the 1st and 2nd pictures are my favorite.
and yes I feel you, I sometimes too busy taking pictures and not enjoying what really happened around me.
good for you, you've found the balance between those two :D

Brenda said...

Amylou, Tang, Mary, Melina, Li+Belle, Miss A, Stephanie, Fransisca: Thanks!<3

Micheal: You're so right!! I'm going to use my film camera more often :D

Cara Edwards said...

oooh jellyfish! so great!

Teresa said...

amazing photographs! This is my absolute favorite: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5767392360_900d9ece39_z.jpg