I had the pleasure of an after-hours visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium last week to view the new jellyfish exhibit. The previous jellyfish exhibit that closed a few years ago was a favorite haunt for photographing interesting movement and low-light compositions, and the new exhibit offers many opportunities to observe and photograph these beautifully surreal creatures.

This room in particular offers some exciting photographic challenges, as the cylindrical tanks are arranged in a room of mirrors, with tantalizing glimpses of infinity and interesting arrangements of light and shadow. Can you spot the photographer? It can be tricky to get out of the shot here!

These bright blue and white polka-dotted jellyfish are some of my favorites, with their intricate structures and vivid colors. To see more of these and other jellyfish, check out my archive of oceanic and aquatic animal photographs.