kelp forest @ monterey

Andi Voeltz is currently visiting California for the first time. Over the weekend, he rented a car and drove up from Los Angeles for a visit. And so, I tried my best to keep him entertained by dragging him all over town. We had dinner with Sarah in Japantown before her departure for Hawaii, and then wandered over to visit Mandy and Elliot in their Mission-district loft. Andi had asked explicitly to meet Mandy, presumably because she is so darned cute! ;)

On Sunday, we drove down to Monterey to go to the aquarium and spent some time with both Berkley White and Norbert Wu. The aquarium is difficult to enjoy on weekends because it is full of Asian and Indian babies. And I don’t mean anything by that. It’s just hard to avoid camera-cranium contact when the little guys try to wedge themselves between you and the exhibits.

Andi Voeltz in Japantown, San Francisco

Sarah Kemble and me (photo: Andi Voeltz)

Sarah Kemble, small. (photo: Andi Voeltz)

Andi Voeltz meets Mandy Knox

Mandy's Subtle Safety Ring

Mandy's Subtle Safety Ring

Elliot Sather. He looks mean.

Me, looking apprehensive, sort of. (photo: Elliot Sather)

Mandy Knox, fake mad. (photo: Elliot Sather)

Andi Voeltz, a Fat Tire, and me. (photo: Elliot Sather)

Monterey Bay Aquarium anchovy tank

Andi Voeltz at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Spectators watch fishies.

Sea Nettles, Monterey Bay Aquarium

Sea Nettles, Monterey Bay Aquarium

The sea nettle tank, Monterey Bay Aquarium

Andi Voeltz photographs sea nettles, Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Outer Bay tank, Monterey Bay Aquarium

School of sardines, and a yellowfin tuna, Monterey Bay Aquarium

Yellowfin tuna, Monterey Bay Aquarium

Andi Voeltz, Monterey Bay Aquarium

A big, plastic whale, Monterey Bay Aquarium

Kelp forest tank, Monterey Bay Aquarium

Kelp forest tank, Monterey Bay Aquarium

Andi Voeltz storms Backscatter on a holiday. Luckily, Berkley white is a nice guy. :)

Andi Voeltz with a Macro Mate.

I asked Andi, "hey -- will you take a photo of me and Berkley?" This is what he did, the first time. Ahh, communication problems. :)

Me, Berkley White, and an old underwater photographer. (photo: Andi Voeltz)

Backlighting is cool.