I love Coney Island, too
- celiclu
- Jul 26, 2018
- 2 min read
Born in The Bronx, I sadly admit that I’ve been to Coney Island maybe five times. I heard of the Aquarium, but I also heard not so great reviews and after Sandy hit, it pretty much became non-existent. A friend of mine mentioned a Shark exhibit and my ears turned up. Did the Aquarium make a comeback? It did.
For a limited time, you can buy half price tickets online until September 3. Save a few bucks! The exhibit, “Ocean Wonders”, is operated by the WIldlife Conservation Society, and almost a little more of a decade of waiting, the exhibit is fun and educational at any age. The brand new pavillion that sits on the boardwalk is a beautiful structure that resembles a seashell with aluminum walls reflecting against the sun. You can't miss it.
A fun fact I learned about sharks is that they have a sixth sense, electroreception. Sharks can detect other prey because of the electrical currents they emit while underwater. It sounds something to be scared of but that was the best thing about this visit. The exhibit educates its visitors the true nature of these misunderstood predators.
Flip through the gallery for more images.
After the Aquarium, if it's your first visit, hit the boardwalk for some food like Nathan's for chili cheese fries or Paul's Daughter for the clam bar. They are food classics for New Yorkers. I parked on the sand and ate like a queen while I guarded my fries from the seagulls.
That day I decided to shoot with my Lensbaby Velvet56 lens. I felt this would be the best time to experiment to get a warm vintage look for exterior shots. Coney Island is full of energy with visitors, performers, food, and nature. The sound of the ocean hitting shore is the same sound from years ago when the early day New Yorkers would escape from the city to the beach.
Playing around with Adobe Lightroom, I used a pastel fuchsia for the shadows and a pastel green for the highlights. If you're hesitant about purchasing a Lensbaby I can admit that these are worth the price. At 500 USD, I'm able to perform macro and play with focusing on my image. It's a fun tool for any photographer's kit.
Take a ride down, get on that new rollercoaster, shove cheese fries in your mouth, and dip your fit in history. Despite the losses Hurricane Sandy did to the beach, Coney Island still lights up at night.
Comments