Many moons ago, I had a reef tank.

Then I had TWO reef tanks.

Then I moved to a new place, and everything was dead the first morning at the new apartment.

Animals that I had kept for many years.

Many purple, blue, and yellow tangs, clowns, anemones, coral, shrimps, tons of snails,  200+ pounds of live rock, and ~100 pounds of live sand.  As well as other animals I have forgotten with the passage of time.

To see all these animals dead–and all at once, was devastating.

After a while I started up one tank again.  I came home one day to the beautiful (new) Blue Tang lying on the floor.  She had jumped out of the tank and died on the floor before I found her.

All the deaths were just too much for me.

I sold 2 100-gallon tanks, a bad ass skimmer, 2 metal halide lamps, and tons of customized plumbing (built by moi!), all to a guy from Tahoe with 10 kids.

When I saw this cloud, I couldn’t help but be reminded of a Ribbon Eel.  I never kept a Ribbon Eel, but I could spot one in a line up with one eye closed.

A Ribbon Eel seems to always have her mouth wide open to the water’s surface.

Clouds that make familiar shapes make me happy.

Someday I will spot marching elephants.  Just like the ones I saw on Sesame Street.

I hope there will be a camera nearby.  Like the day a Ribbon Eel appeared from the clear blue sky.

Canon

ISO 400

Focal Length 40 mm

Aperture f/11

Shutter Speed 1/800

No Flash

I couldn’t resist sharing this series of shots I captured with a super duper zoom lens.

Now pay attention.

The birds around here wear camouflage.

Watch the head.

Coming in for a landing.

Checking for fleas.

Got one.

Now it’s time to go.

I hope the bird scratched the cow’s itch while she was up there.

The least one could do for this poor pregnant mother.

Canon

ISO 400

Focal Length 190mm

Aperture f/10

Shutter Speed 1/500

No Flash

 

My Top Shot this week is The Dome at Westfield San Francisco Centre.  The shopping is top notch at this mall, and having my camera in tow is always a special treat.

I can’t share this shot without showing you another shot I took several years ago crouching in the same spot (second image).

I have re-shot this picture in my head one million times.  I had many regrets about the composition of the shot from long ago.  So when I knew we were going to this shopping center again, I loaded the camera and thought about this shot the whole trip into the city.

This is the picture from my most recent visit.

And this is the picture I’ve re-shot in my head one million times.

This picture below was shot with my iPhone.

If you’re ever in the city this is definitely worth checking out, even if you’re not in the mood to shop!

The First Shot:

Canon

ISO 400

Focal Length 17mm

Aperture f/10

Shutter Speed 1/400

No Flash

The Second Shot:

iphone

Daddy And Me.

Canon, 70mm, ISO 100, f/5.6