Aquarium advice

[madramper]

I don't know if this would be wildlife or nature... since technically its neither :D

In a couple of weeks, I am going to Baltimore. My wife has a trade show, so I will be heading over to the aquarium. Do you guys have any tips for shooting in that setting? I'm thinking it will be pretty dark with the lighting coming from the water. Also, I doubt I will be using the flash because of the reflection, correct?

[neil_r]

Flash simply comes back off the glass, ramp up the ISO and if you can press your lens hood against the glass and you will get no reflections. Something to clean the fingerprints off the glass may also come in handy.

http://www.ambrosiabbs.com/gallery/photo/medium/usa_nov_04_mr_2004_N6H2204.jpg
1/4s | aperture: f/2 | ISO: 800

http://www.ambrosiabbs.com/gallery/photo/medium/usa_nov_04_mr_2004_N6H2234.jpg
1/3s | aperture: f/5 | ISO: 800

http://www.ambrosiabbs.com/gallery/photo/medium/usa_nov_04_mr_2004_N6H2195.jpg
1/3s | aperture: f/2.5 | ISO: 800

[madramper]

Awesome shots! I love the blues! Would you mind sharing the settings you used on those?


Note to self.... get a lens hood :D

[neil_r]

I have added the data below the pictures.

Canon EOS 1D MkII with a 50mm f/1.2 Holding the camera against the glass lets you get away with some slow shutter speeds

[madramper]

Awesome! I reallly appreciate you sharing!

[madramper]

I went to an aquarium that is about 45 minutes from me. Its a lot smaller than Baltimore, but I figured it would be a good practice for next week. Anyway, I have determined I definately need faster glass. The lighting was horrible. Worse than I can remember it ever being. Some of the tanks were so dark, you couldn't really even see what was in the let alone try to photograph it. There were a couple of shots that I had to go up to ISO 1600 and still wound up tossing them. I was disappointed with how dirty everything was too. The glass was dirty, the water a few tanks was dirty.

I really only got a few shots that I would even consider good enough to share here.


http://delvallo.net/host/madramper/IMG_3916.jpg



http://delvallo.net/host/madramper/IMG_4044.jpg



http://delvallo.net/host/madramper/IMG_4079.jpg



http://delvallo.net/host/madramper/IMG_4081.jpg



http://delvallo.net/host/madramper/IMG_4117.jpg