the joy of swimming

Posted by e. (New York, NY, United States) on 10 February 2008 in Animal & Insect.

I hate this photo for a lot of reasons, and love it for only one reason. This seal was swimming in fast circles around a rock. I wanted to try to capture it in motion, but I realized that without flash, it was completely blurred, so I was forced to use flash, creating the terrible reflection off the glass that you see. And then I didn't get the shot I wanted.

However, and this photo is also part of Illuci's prompt. I love the expression I captured on the seal's face. The closed eyes show how much it loves the feel of the swimming.

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Photo taken at the Toba Aquarium in Japan on December 23, 2007.

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. - Albert Einstein

Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. - Shawshank Redemption

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

I know what you mean, sometimes something is too precious to ignore, such as this seal...he is so beautiful, I wish he were swimming in the sea...

10 Feb 2008 11:21am

Craiger from Vacaville, California, United States

You caught his expression preciously!

10 Feb 2008 8:58pm

Illuci from Hurdegaryp, Netherlands

I can feel with him, they share our feelings only they have other sources of enjoyment such as icecold water and raw fish.

10 Feb 2008 9:42pm

Illuci from Hurdegaryp, Netherlands

I can feel with him, they share our feelings only they have other sources of enjoyment such as icecold water and raw fish. Greatly captured, just in time!

10 Feb 2008 9:43pm

MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom

He has a look of pure rapture on his face, bless him.

10 Feb 2008 10:27pm

Rags from Plano, United States

photography can be tricky, but in the end, i feel that as what counts the most is what the image means to the photographer. Great Job e. !

10 Feb 2008 11:21pm

amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada

Nicely captured e.! That IS a very sweet smile on his face.

10 Feb 2008 11:28pm

Nikon D40X
1/60 second
F/5.6
ISO 200
78 mm (35mm equiv.)

zoo
japan