Calling All Photographers: Bring Your Camera And Shoot To Your Heart's Delight At The Aquarium Of The Pacific

Heads up, wildlife photographers: the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach will host its annual photographers’ night on Sunday.

Now in its 14th year, the event takes place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., after the aquarium's closed to the public.

Anitza Valles, the aquarium’s web and social media manager, came up with the idea.

“We invite photographers, amateur and professional, all ages, all skill levels to come and enjoy a night of photography at the aquarium where they don't have to battle it out with regular guests or strollers or any other kids,” Valles said. “It's basically a night for people to kind of camp out and get the shots that they've always wanted to get.”

You don't have to take photos of fish to stand out at Photographers' Night - this photo won the aquarium's contest in 2018.

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EE Moore/Aquarium of the Pacific

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The event will also feature vendors like Fujifilm, which will lend equipment to attendees, as well as an introductory workshop. Guests will also be able to make a splash by competing in the aquarium’s annual photo contest.

The biggest attraction

Valles, who’s an amateur photographer herself, said sea jellies are often the biggest attraction on photography night, but getting the right shot of the slow-moving sea creatures can take a bit of work.

Photographers gather around the Aquarium's Amber Forest exhibit hoping for the one perfect shot.

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Anitza Valles/Aquarium of the Pacific

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“It seems really simple, but then once you actually just stop the motion in your camera, you realize that jellies look very strange when they're mid-motion,” she said. “So you kind of have to follow them along and get in tune with their timing.”

Photographers camp out all night at the aquarium's exhibits for the perfect photo, like this 2021 contest-winning shot.

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Rebecca Li/Aquarium of the Pacific

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Some exhibits will have restrictions on flash photography and bright lights. For instance, flash is not allowed near the giant Pacific octopus since it’s a den animal that prefers low light. Otherwise, photographers will have free rein to take photos of any of the aquarium’s animals.

Valles said even after almost 15 years, she’s still surprised by the pictures people take — even of the less photogenic animals at the aquarium.

The Pacific spiny lumpsucker stuns in this photo, which won the aquarium's photo contest in 2019.

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Heather Lemmon/Aquarium of the Pacific

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“People think ‘aquarium,’ they think bright tropical fish, but we get really interesting fish that most people might have not paid attention to on a regular visit,” Valles said. “You get something like the Pacific spiny lumpsuckers. That’s one of my favorites in recent years, and it is the most adorably ugly, cute fish you can think of.”

You can find more details about the event and buy tickets at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s website.