Adventures in the Vancouver Aquarium

I finally got around to processing the pictures I took ages ago at the Vancouver Aquarium. They were a hassle because it was the second time I'd ever shot RAW- and while its SO much better with the amount of control it gives you, it also doubles your workload having to adjust them first before you can even begin to edit.

I'm not usually much for trapped animals. I hate zoos for that very reason- it kills me to see creatures exploited like that, much more when their habitats look uncomfortable, unnatural, small and downright unhealthy.. that being said, my heart flutters when I see marine life. I just love it. Something about ocean creatures is ethereal. They seem so peaceful the way they gravefully flow and ebb with the water..

These guys for instance, the black tipped reaf sharks.. are so majestic. I stare and stare and stare, and I still can't get enough. Of course, when I saw them swimming wild in thailand off the coast of Koh Phi Phi, it was much much better- but still, being underneeth them and viewing them swirl around is still magical.


My other obsession, the turtle. Forgive the amount of pictures, but I love this thing- and the only glimpse of a wild one I had was when I was sailing in the Whitsundays in Australia, but by the time I was ready to snap a picture it dipped back underwater, and we weren't anywhere where we could drop anchor and dive after it.. so I've had to content myself with aquarium turtles- fantastic non-the-less.

My other favourites are the jellyfish- which I really would not prefer to meet in the wild. My one run-in with a wild jellyfish in Italy left me with a sting and my best friend telling me that his peeing on me would be the best solution to the problem (I declined. I'll take my pain and dignity, thankyouverymuch)

But I could still watch them for hours. They just look like beautiful chandeliers that sway and dance. These two looked like they were caught in a wonderous romance.

I adored the sea horses. They're so majestic, and I'm innately drawn to them out of a fascination for the male, who carries the baby through pregnancy- how cool is that!?

And then there's the happy sea otters.

How could you not spend hours looking at those eyes!?

The Aquarium had a special frog exhibit going on, which I loved. I tried to get pictures of the brighter more deadly frogs- but of course they were the tiniest and hardest to spot, so I had to content myself with the more mundane counterparts..

This beautiful Baslisk Lizard stayed perfectly still letting me snap away. Those yellow eyes were just so amazing.

And lastly, the fish. So many fish- not enough time. But these intrigued me with their silver sheen and sparkle.

And that, was my adventure in the Vancouver Aquarium