Studio Musings

Friday, April 5, 2013

Focus on Life - Up Close and Personal

China Rockfish - his pectoral fin remind me of fingers!
This week Sally has challenged us to explore the details of the ordinary up close with macro photography.  Since I seem to be on a fish kick, I thought I'd share a few closeups of some of my favorite friends from the local aquarium. 

I took a number of shots trying to catch the movement of this China Rockfish's pectoral fins.  Rather than a solid fin, it's composed of individual streamers that seem to fan somewhat independently, in waves of motion.  


Spiny Lumpsucker
This little guy is only about two and a half inches long.  Isn't he cool?  There are so many interesting things about him - all the little spikes, how fast his fins fan (you can't even see his pectoral fins in this shot, they're moving so fast - like a hummingbird's wings), his bright blue eyes.    Then there's his name - Spiny Lumpsucker!  So named because he also has a suction cup on his belly for attaching himself to reef rocks.

Another rockfish
This shot is straight out of the camera - the slight graininess is from pushing my macro to the limits to catch this guy.  He's yet another species of Rockfish, but I think he looks like a dragon. 

Thanks again Sally for this week's prompt.  To see what others decided to study up close and personal, take a gander over at The Studio Sublime and Week 14 of Sally Rusic's Focus on Life photography series. 

12 comments:

  1. very cool pics! I love your little Rockfish guy :)

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  2. Wow, such wonderful colors and textures in these photos. We love visitin aquariums when we travel and never get tired of them. I usually have a hard time getting good photos though.

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  3. Oh, I love the aquarium! The names they give the fish sometimes make me laugh...I wonder if THEY suffer in Jr. High because of their names?? :-)

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  4. So cool Karen, these guys would be beautiful all beaded up in a bead embroidered piece.
    Therese

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  5. I agree with Therese! You captured some beautiful texture and color and the aquarium is a perfect place for inspiration. Great photos!

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  6. Gorgeous!!! You captured lots of wonderful color and texture.

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  7. Spiny lumpsucker sounds like an insult...heh
    Great shots

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  8. Such beautiful fish, thanks for bringing them to us!

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  9. I love your rockfish photo, so cool!

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  10. I love these. My husband loves fish and aquariums and your photos definitely show how lovely those creatures can be.

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  11. Fantastic shots! The Spiny Lumpsucker looks like a beaded fish!

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  12. That bottom fish looks like grumpy fish! These really are gorgeous shots!

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