Saturday, September 18, 2010

School (This week's Photo Hunt theme)




Especially if one were to count my years at graduate school, I am one of those people who spent far too many years in (educational!) institutions. And maybe that's why in recent years, I've generally shied away from taking photos of any of them even though they are very much part of the Hong Kong landscape. (As an example, I walk past a school daily on the way to and from the nearest MTR station to where I live.)

So rather than offer up photos of schools for humans as my entry for this week's Photo Hunt, here instead are shots of a school of fish spotted swimming in the waters of Tai Tam Upper Reservoir. (Incidentally, these photos were taken on the same hike as that during which I caught sight of some (other) interesting Hong Kong wildlife. And for those who are wondering, yes, one is allowed -- after getting a license and outside of the spawning season -- to fish in Hong Kong's reservoirs.)

As for why the two fish photos above look quite different: the upper shot was of them swimming about rather calmly while the one below shows the frenzy and pandemonium that comes about after somebody -- not me! -- threw chunks of bread into the water. I wish I could also have captured the surprisingly loud sound of the fish urgently thrashing about in their contest to get themselves some bits of the food as that was really quite something along with the very sight. Suffice to say that it got me thinking that a school of excited fish can be as scary a sight and sound as that of a school of excited, squealing children! ;)

27 comments:

magiceye said...

beautiful takes on the theme!

Anonymous said...

now this is the one i'm waiting for - a school of fish.

Carver said...

What a great idea for the theme. I didn't even think about schools of fish and I'm glad you did. Great shots. I hope you have a happy weekend.

Colin Campbell said...

Clever idea and great shots.

LifeRamblings said...

love your different take on the theme. very creative and refreshing idea.

Anonymous said...

Heh, I was going to do a school of fish thing too until I realised that I didn't have any photos of fish - love yours!

MaR said...

Love your different take on the theme, I had no motivation whatsoever for this week's school :)
Enjoy your weekend.

Lilian said...

A different kind of school! Excellent.

YTSL said...

Hi Magiceye --

To be honest, I thought my photos are more interesting than beautiful -- but will take the compliment! Thanks! :)

Hi ewok1993 --

You want to view... or catch? ;b

Hi Carver --

Thanks and happy weekend to you too. :)

Hi Colin --

Glad you like them. :)

Hi Life Ramblings --

Thanks for appreciating. :)

Hi Azahar --

I actually have another photo taken at the Osaka Aquarium that I was thinking of using... before realizing that I had put it up on the blog before! ;b

Hi Mar --

Thanks for dropping by and hope to see a Photo Hunt entry from you again soon.

Hi Lilian --

So do I get full marks? ;b

jams o donnell said...

Great take on the theme. The fish definitely go wild for food!. Have a great weekend

Anonymous said...

Wow - a school of fish - what a great idea!

Susan Demeter said...

Great take on the theme :) Definitely different, and very appropriate!

Anonymous said...

I spent a lot of time at school also (over 20 years combined) but I STILL miss it. Great take on SCHOOL.

Annie said...

Very cool take on the theme. Amazed that you thought of a school of fish and also have photos of one! Excellent.

Maya said...

Great shots of the fish. I taught for 10 years and not a single traditional school photo in my collection.
We are still looking into flights for Hong Kong, I will let you know if it all comes together.

Unknown said...

love your take on the theme. i saw a TV documentary about silver carps, they were "flying" everywhere. it was scary!:p

YTSL said...

Hi Jams --

As an addendum: there were turtles trying to get at the food too but the fish just were way too fast for them! ;O

Hi JDeQ --

Have noticed at least one other Photo Hunter who had the same idea. Cool, eh? :)

Hi Sue --

Thanks -- and happy to be able to display my fish action shot. :)

Hi "And Miles To Go..." --

I loved my undergraduate college but the other schools not so much. In fact, there are a couple that I actually have nightmares of being back at from time to time! ;S

Hi Annie --

Guess my mind just works in... unconventional ways! ;)

Hi Maya --

Ohhhh, you're a teacher as well as hiker! ;b

Hi Luna Miranda --

Have you ever seen flying fish while out on a boat? I have and they make for an amazing sight indeed -- not scary, just awesome. :)

Liz said...

Excellent take on the theme.

Have a great weekend.

Liz @ MLC

A. said...

Wonderful shots! I tried so hard to do something similar but the fish just wouldn't cooperate. :)

Gattina said...

I thought it was a school for fishes where they learn to swim, lol !
I never liked going to any school !

Janice said...

Schools of fish...clever!

Trekcapri said...

Hi YTSL, great photos and a very clever take on this week's theme. Wow, those fishes were hungry. :)

Have a great weekend.

YTSL said...

Hi Liz --

Thanks -- and I did have a great weekend. Hope you did too. :)

Hi A --

Did you throw some chunks of bread into the water? It sure seemed to do the trick with the ones in Tai Tam Upper Reservoir! :b

Hi Gattina --

Teehee... yeah, it's one of those strange English phrases... a school of fish. :)

Hi Janice --

Cool that you think so! :)

Hi Trekcapri --

Am not sure if the fish were hungry or just plain greedy! ;b

jmb said...

Novel take on the theme YTSL, great photos besides.

My daughter spent 12 years fulltime in university all told and still takes courses on this and that.

Happy weekend to you.

Marta said...

They definitely do go crazy for the food. Great take on the theme. Actually more fun an institutional schools. :)

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

you are the second person who tackled this theme with a school of fish. Great job.

YTSL said...

Hi JMB --

Re your daughter: good on her... but I have to say that I never want to take a course -- or, worse, test -- ever again!

Hi Marta --

Lots of Photo Hunters have great educational institution photos but I think my school of fish photos are better than any education institution photos I have! ;b

Hi Ann --

Thanks -- and did you Photo Hunt this past week? If so, sorry but I couldn't find your entry! ;(