This past Saturday we drove down to Boston to see my brother and take our daughter on her first trip to The New England Aquarium. She was so excited. The night before I was trying to explain the scale of just how big the fish tanks were (HA, scale! Yes for bad puns!) and I could tell she just wasn’t getting it. Trying to picture a fish tank the size of her room was too much! But she was thrilled at the idea of being able to see sharks. I love that she isn’t afraid of them, though she did hesitantly ask if the sharks would be walking around WITH us haha!
Her favorite part of the day was getting to pet the sting rays and sharks. They have a big petting tank (I didn’t get photos as I was too busy petting them with her) and she was so happy to be up to her elbows in water petting tiny sharks! We even got to watch them and the rays get fed which was cool. Lots of splashing that made her giggle.
As for me, I was pretty excited to test out some of my (pretty slim) camera skills. This camera is my first DSLR, and I have really never taken the time to learn how to use it properly. I tend to stick with the auto settings, and go from there. I figured the aquarium with it’s awkward lighting and fun subjects would be a good time to test out my manual skills! So all the pics in this post are taken with manual focus and settings.
Overall, they came out okay. Many of them came out blurred as I fiddled with settings and practiced the manual focus. I definitely have a serious amount to learn, but since photography is a personal hobby I’ve got plenty of time to do so.
A lot of people say this aquarium isn’t that great compared to others, but it’s the only one I’ve ever been to so I don’t have much to compare. I actually like that it’s not huge. I’ve learned when doing things with my three year old there is definitely a limit to fun, otherwise you head into the (not so) magical land of meltdown mode. The aquarium was the perfect size in that we managed to see everything and be done before any crankiness kicked in. Huzzah!
anopensketchbook.wordpress.com 
You are raising an amazing young girl!
Thanks, Mary!
I’ve been to Boston a couple of times in the last couple of years and I still have yet to check out the aquarium. That needs to change!
It’s fun! Not too pricey, just definitely do NOT use the Harbor Parking Garage (the one right next to the aquarium). Crazy expensive! There are other (much cheaper) parking garages in the area, and then you get to walk in the city a bit, which I always like.
Aquariums are so magical. I quite like the photo of the turtle.
Thank you! Seeing the turtle was my favorite part of the day. She was just hanging out there, and occasionally her baby was stop by to visit.
Yeah, you really can’t go to places too big with kids, they’ll most likely get bored and there goes all that money you spent! Your pictures turned out great, I’m still stuck on auto… for a while I was learning how to work the manual mode but I haven’t practiced with it in a long time so I forgot >_<
Your daughter sounds so cute, I love how she asked if the sharks would be walking with you guys!! Kids are just so funny sometimes! 🙂
Jessica
the.pyreflies.org
Thanks! And yes, kids can certainly be hilarious.