National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

[mjs1973]

Amy and I took a trip to Dubuque to check out the Museum & Aquarium a couple weeks ago. If anyone is in the area, it's well worth a visit. All photos taken with 50mm f/1.8.

The paddle wheel outside of the museum.



A couple ducks in the Backwater Aquarium.





A tree frog.



A catfish and a gar.



A lizard of some sort. I should have taken notes.



Some snakes.



It wasn't all critters.



Turtles.



Inside and old steam boat.



Muskrat.



Inside an old dredging boat.



An alligator snapping turtle coming up for air. This thing was huge.



Some river otters.



Timber rattlesnake.

[Loupey]

Wow, Michael - looks like you gave your 50mm quite a workout. Hope you were able to enjoy it without a camera also

The second duck image is great! Love the action imparted onto the water from its beak. Quite the dynamic still shot - not an oxymoron

Thanks for sharing.

[mjs1973]

Thanks Loupey. Using only the 50mm sure cut down on the weight. ;) I wish I would have asked for some tips like BMWJNKW did before I went. Lots of glare, and dirty, scratched plexiglass to deal with.

Now I want to make a trip to Chicago to visit the Shedd Aquarium.

[Loupey]

The Shedd is my favorite. We visit Chicago at least once a year and the Shedd Aquarium, along with the Field Museum are always on our "to do" list every time.

As for the 50mm f/1.8 - sounds like a crowd pleaser by a lot of people here. I know its only $80 bucks new and I've tried to buy it twice now. But that darn plastic mount and overall construction worries me. Guess I should just be concerned about the images it produces (like yours and others). Just worried that I'll be somewhere far away with limited equipment (I too like to travel light - extremely light at times) and have my only lens fall apart.

[mjs1973]

As for the 50mm f/1.8 - sounds like a crowd pleaser by a lot of people here. I know its only $80 bucks new and I've tried to buy it twice now. But that darn plastic mount and overall construction worries me. Guess I should just be concerned about the images it produces (like yours and others). Just worried that I'll be somewhere far away with limited equipment (I too like to travel light - extremely light at times) and have my only lens fall apart.

I haven't had my 50mm f/1.8 for very long, but I'm thrilled with it. I got it used for $50 from one of the members here, and it would be a bargin at twice that price. The build quality does feel very cheap, but I have never had any problems with it. Up until recently, I have shot almose exclusively with kit lenses, and I have never had a build related problem so I'm not worried about the 50mm falling apart on me. I do understand your concern tho. Of course it's so cheap, and light, you could buy 2 and keep one as a spare.

[karen m.]

Michael,

Great set of pictures Thanks for sharing

[scott-devon]

Beautiful shots Michael. That first one of the paddle wheel is amazing, great detail and depth of field.

[paulnj]

nice job!!!!!!

[Bevb]

Great series, its amazing what that little lense does.

[mjs1973]

Thanks for taking the time to look and comment everyone. This was a very cool place to visit. It's not as big as I thought it would be, but still well worth the vistit. Amy and I spent about 3 hours here, and as soon as I left, I wanted to go back.

[Copy_Kot]

Great images Michael! I love the river otters and I think both the paddle wheel, and inside the paddle wheel boat images might make excellent black and whites (not that there is anything wrong with them in color).