taking aquarium shots

Crypto · 31st of March 2006 (Fri)

I'm going to an aquarium tomorrow and would like to get some shots through the glass. It will be of fish and reptiles. Anyone have any tips or advice?

Livinthalife · 31st of March 2006 (Fri)

I would reccomend having a internal focusing camera, and press the lens against the glass. this should help you avoid the reflections. I think there is some filter to help prevent glare also.

sjprg · 31st of March 2006 (Fri)

Try to keep any light from being behind you. You want the lighting to come from the tank.
http://www.pbase.com/sjprg/monterey_aquarium

Crypto · 31st of March 2006 (Fri)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjprg

Try to keep any light from being behind you. You want the lighting to come from the tank.
http://www.pbase.com/sjprg/monterey_aquarium

some nice shots you have. Some of the threads on the forum suggest a polarizing filter. Did you use one? Flash?
I'm not sure if I should take my kit lens or my 70-300.

Bodryn · 31st of March 2006 (Fri)

I can second that about the polarizing filter, most effective at an angle of about 45 degrees to the glass. Also to be as close to the glass as possible.

Livinthalife · 31st of March 2006 (Fri)

i would go kit lens since you wont be doing many long distance shots.

Crypto · 1st of April 2006 (Sat)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livinthalife

i would go kit lens since you wont be doing many long distance shots.

thanks, I was thinking the 70-300 on in the macro setting. For those fish or reptiles that are not close to the glass.

arpi · 1st of April 2006 (Sat)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crypto

I'm going to an aquarium tomorrow and would like to get some shots through the glass. It will be of fish and reptiles. Anyone have any tips or advice?

these are some pics I took at the Baltimore Aquarium in the Maryland POTN a couple months back

Baltimore Aquarium 2006 and other stuff

I got to the glass as close as possible and I used a wide lens. Most of the the fish will be very close to the glass and a 70mm or higher would seem impractical

cheers and good luck

Crypto · 1st of April 2006 (Sat)

Quote:

Originally Posted by arpi

these are some pics I took at the Baltimore Aquarium in the Maryland POTN a couple months back

Baltimore Aquarium 2006 and other stuff

I got to the glass as close as possible and I used a wide lens. Most of the the fish will be very close to the glass and a 70mm or higher would seem impractical

cheers and good luck

Great shots. Thanks for the info. Did you use a flash for these?

arpi · 1st of April 2006 (Sat)

Hi Crypto!

yes. I used flash because a tripod was not allowed and because fish move, which means that you have to light up the place in a flash! (ok. bad joke, he he). I used flash for 95% of the shots. that is why you want to get as close as possible to the aquarium glass. that way, the flash does not apear (bounce back) in your shot and some of the dirt of the aquarium glass gets also somewhat out of focus.

Good luck

lancea · 2nd of April 2006 (Sun)

Well Crypto, I guess you've been. I was at the Sydney Aqaurium a few weeks ago. Wonderful place. As I entered there was a sign sponsored by Canon with photo-tips. Pretty much as everyone has said. I was really surprised though to see that flash was recommended. Has anyone asked the fish what they think?

Reflections were a problem, but also the most interesting shots were those with reflections of people in them. It certainly was hard to get those little fish in focus. How'd you go?

Crypto · 2nd of April 2006 (Sun)

Thanks for all the help!!
Here are a few shots I got:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...59#post1357159

jbkalla · 2nd of April 2006 (Sun)

Great shots!

Crypto · 2nd of April 2006 (Sun)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbkalla

Great shots!

thank you. I was pretty happy.

31st of March 2006 (Fri)	#1
Crypto Goldmember Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Northern Va Posts: 2,643 IMAGE EDITING OK	taking aquarium shots I'm going to an aquarium tomorrow and would like to get some shots through the glass. It will be of fish and reptiles. Anyone have any tips or advice? __________________ TCProimages Canon 5DII Canon 40D Canon 100-400L, Canon 24-70L, Canon MP65 macro

31st of March 2006 (Fri)	#2
Livinthalife Cream of the Crop Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Austin,TX Posts: 5,097 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: taking aquarium shots I would reccomend having a internal focusing camera, and press the lens against the glass. this should help you avoid the reflections. I think there is some filter to help prevent glare also. __________________ -Andy- Canon 5DMKII 85 1.8 Rokinon 8 FE 24-105 F4 IS L 580EX 70-200 2.8 100 2.8 L ...:::My Website:::...

31st of March 2006 (Fri)	#3
sjprg Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 297	Re: taking aquarium shots Try to keep any light from being behind you. You want the lighting to come from the tank. http://www.pbase.com/sjprg/monterey_aquarium __________________ Paul San Jose, Ca. USA http://www.pbase.com/sjprg Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. Dogs have masters, Cats have staff.

31st of March 2006 (Fri)	#5
Bodryn Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Minnesota, Manitoba Posts: 446	Re: taking aquarium shots I can second that about the polarizing filter, most effective at an angle of about 45 degrees to the glass. Also to be as close to the glass as possible. __________________ Bodryn ======== Canon A540; A720 IS; S5 IS; SX20 IS; Pentax *istDS + lots of lenses; Jasc PSP v.9; "Where are we going? And why are we in this handbasket?

31st of March 2006 (Fri)	#6
Livinthalife Cream of the Crop Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Austin,TX Posts: 5,097 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: taking aquarium shots i would go kit lens since you wont be doing many long distance shots. __________________ -Andy- Canon 5DMKII 85 1.8 Rokinon 8 FE 24-105 F4 IS L 580EX 70-200 2.8 100 2.8 L ...:::My Website:::...

1st of April 2006 (Sat)	#10
arpi Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 319	Re: taking aquarium shots Hi Crypto! yes. I used flash because a tripod was not allowed and because fish move, which means that you have to light up the place in a flash! (ok. bad joke, he he). I used flash for 95% of the shots. that is why you want to get as close as possible to the aquarium glass. that way, the flash does not apear (bounce back) in your shot and some of the dirt of the aquarium glass gets also somewhat out of focus. Good luck __________________ "if you don't have experience you'll fall in love" Daddy Yankee

2nd of April 2006 (Sun)	#11
lancea Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Zealand Posts: 720	Re: taking aquarium shots Well Crypto, I guess you've been. I was at the Sydney Aqaurium a few weeks ago. Wonderful place. As I entered there was a sign sponsored by Canon with photo-tips. Pretty much as everyone has said. I was really surprised though to see that flash was recommended. Has anyone asked the fish what they think? Reflections were a problem, but also the most interesting shots were those with reflections of people in them. It certainly was hard to get those little fish in focus. How'd you go? __________________ Olympus C-50 Zoom; Canon PowerShot G9; EOS 20D; EOS 5D Mark II Canon EF-S 10-22; EF-S 18-55; EF 17-40 f/4L; EF 24-105 f/4L; EF 70-200 f/4L

2nd of April 2006 (Sun)	#12
Crypto Goldmember Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Northern Va Posts: 2,643 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: taking aquarium shots Thanks for all the help!! Here are a few shots I got: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...59#post1357159 __________________ TCProimages Canon 5DII Canon 40D Canon 100-400L, Canon 24-70L, Canon MP65 macro

2nd of April 2006 (Sun)	#13
jbkalla Goldmember Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aurora, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,798 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: taking aquarium shots Great shots! __________________ John flickr \| Google+ \| 500px \| Panoramio \| InterfaceLift \| deviantArt Canon 5D III \| 16-35mm f/2.8L II \| 70-200mm f/2.8L \| 40mm f/28 STM \| 300mm f/4L IS \|  Core i7 iMac & MBP

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Taking photos in a public aquarium with a PowerShot S2 IS	Cudamav	General Photography Talk	5	4th of October 2006 (Wed) 13:49
Aquarium Shots	jforj143	Wildlife	1	26th of August 2006 (Sat) 18:09
First aquarium shots	Mike Bell	Macro	13	13th of January 2006 (Fri) 16:47
Aquarium shots	hauff	Wildlife	8	31st of December 2005 (Sat) 11:23
Can anyone help me with aquarium shots?	Kelv2888	General Photography Talk	7	10th of May 2005 (Tue) 07:32