Three photographers dive in with tips for shooting at the Ripley's Aquarium

Bernard Weil, Rene Johnston & Steve Russell - Staff Photographers

Believe it or not, the aquarium at the base of the CN Tower has finally opened.

The aquarium operated by Ripley's features 450 species of fish swimming in 5.7 million litres of water!

The aquarium also offers challenges to photographers.

"This place is awesome," says Rene Johnston who reported on the progress of the aquarium for the Star's Layar edition, "Great fish and challenging light." See Rene's video on Pepper the Giant Pacific Octopus

His offers this advice for shutterbugs trying to get great pictures, "The biggest problem will be crowds. Photographer should go early in the mayor go later when crowds are lighter." The aquarium will be open 9 to 9 daily.

Bernard Weil also part of the Layar edition says, "now that all the exhibits are operating. With more than 16,000 marine animals on site, there's definitely a wow factor going on here."

As far as photography goes, "Shooting inside is fairly easy. If you want more than a silhouette of your kids gawking at the creatures, bring a flash, but watch out for reflections against the glass."

As for me, a scuba diver, the displays reminded me of dives I had made in the past.

I was impressed with the tanks, there are a lot of tanks with curved glass so I was worried about reflections. The layout and lighting design are great and there are very few reflections of from other tanks, lights or exit signs. With reflection in mind, a trip to the aquarium is a great day to leave the white shirt hanging in the closet and wear something darker.

My advice is to try to shoot as square as you can to the tank glass to minimize distortion. 

                                                                                                                    -Steve Russell 

 

RENE JOHNSTON - A shark swims past the underwater tunnel in the massive tank named Dangerous Lagoon.

 

September 2013, summer ends, boys of summer out, Leafs rise.

 

STEVE RUSSELL - Rose and Amin Ghaemi hang upside down on the apex of the Bonsai ride  during the final weekend of the Canadian National Exhibition.

A look back at August in photos

 

We begin with a look back at Jack...

RANDY RISLING - Olivia Chow works on the Jack Layton Memorial sculpture titled "Jack's Got Your Back" at MST Bronze in Etobicoke. The sculpture was unveiled on the second anniversary of Jack's death, August 22 at the Toronto Island Ferry Terminal. Olivia holds a Fine Arts degree and is a trained sculptor. 

Bitchy the Hawk takes me to new heights.

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer - @RussellPhotos

 

 Bitchy is a working Harris hawk.

 

Rob Wernaart cares for Bitchy at his home outside of Toronto. Bitchy is a working Harris hawk in Toronto whose mere presence is enough to scare away gulls at BMO Field and the Molson Ampitheatre.Wernaart, is a wildlife management specialist.

 

Rob Wernaart gives Bitchy's beak a caress. Bitchy is also the unofficial mascot for Toronto FC.

 

Bitchy sits on Rob Wernaart's glove.

 

Bitchy has been working at BMO field since the opening season, he added the Molson Amphitheatre this year.

 

Rob Wernaart, loads Bitchy into her travelling box for the drive into the city for a gig at the Molson Amphitheatre for the John Mayer concert. Her box has air holes below her sightlines so she does not get motion sick.

 

Rob Wernaart and Bitchy cross the bridge for a gig at the Molson Amphitheatre.

 

Rob Wernaart hauls a boxed Bitchy through the ceiling on the way to her perch on the roof of the Molson Amphitheatre.

 

Rob Wernaart hauls a boxed Bitchy to the top of the stage enroute to her perch on the roof of the Molson Amphitheatre.

 

Rob Wernaart walks across the stage towards her perch on the roof of the Molson Amphitheatre.

 

Rob Wernaart takes Bitchy out of her box on top of the roof of the Molson Amphitheatre.

 

Rob Wernaart pats Bitchy after placing her on her perch on the roof for the John Mayer concert. 

 

Gulls might fly by once or twice but never lower than the roof once they catch sight of Bitchy.

 

A fan that lost an entire slice of pizza to a gull was the catalyst for the Amphitheatre to hire Bitchy.

 

Rob Wernaart checks Bitchy on her perch before the concert starts. Bitchy doesn't have to fly to keep gulls at bay.

 

Birds give Bitchy a wide berth as they fly by.

 

Phillip Phillips performs as Bitchy keeps the gulls away.

 

Bitchy walks along the edge of the roof.

 

Rob Wernaart picks up Bitchy at twilight, by the time the sun goes down most gulls are back on Leslie Spit and Bitchy might fall prey to an owl. 

 

 

 

 

Our Best of June, Super Moon, Rob Ford, Blue Jays, MMVA, etc.

 

RANDY RISLING -  Cyclists get a rare opportunity to ride traffic-free along the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway for the Becel Heart & Stroke Ride for Heart. June 2, 2013.

 

No Fooling, we had a great March!

 

DAVID COOPER - Leafs  Frazer McLaren decks Senators Dave Dizurzynski during the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators  at the Air Canada Centre.

2012 - Keith Beaty

Keith Beaty - Staff Photographer - @keithbeaty

Bridal dress for cover of Special Section's Wedding Planner Issue.

2012 by Vince Talotta

Vince Talotta - Staff Photographer

Daniel Radcliffe, the Harry Potter star, comes to Toronto to talk about his new movie "The Woman in Black"

Merry Christmas from the Photo Department!

We take a break for our collection of year end blogs.

Here is a collection of some of our Christmas and Holiday pictures leading into this season.

DAVID COOPER - Gorgeous holiday window displays are one of the first signs of the season, these windows are at Holt Renfrew on Bloor Street were up November 1, 2012.

Andrew Francis Wallace - 2012

Andrew Francis Wallace - Staff Photographer - @awallacethestar

A high performance Audi R8, priced $134,000, caught on fire on the Toronto Gardiner Expressway in the early evening, June 25, 2012. No one was injured, and the roadway opened shortly after firefighters extinguished the blaze.