Tips on shooting in aquariums

I've got canon 6d mark ii with a canon f4 17-40mm L series lens. Figured it would be the best lens out of my arsenal to use. This summer plan on taking the kids to the aquarium in chattanooga, TN. Overall I'm new to photography but have no experience here. Any tips on flash, lens filters or techniques. Thanks in advance.
Nick

This is just my personal experience and a specialist might advise you differently (and probably better).

1) A high ISO will help avoid blur. Aquariums are darker than you think
2) Be patient if kids are there. Don't push them out of the way to get a good shot.
3) Flash is tricky, it might bounce off the glass, and the fish don't like it.
4) Shooting in RAW is a good idea, water color is difficult for some cameras. You can correct it later
5) Fast shutter speeds if you can
6) Shoot sharks from the lowest angle you can get. For some reason, sharks look extra menacing that way.
7)Have fun!

Best thing is a collapsible rubber lens hood, so you can put the lens right up against the glass and eliminate virtually all glare and reflections.

The suggestions above are all good, particularly using a soft hood. If you don't want to do that, a black towel is useful for draping over head/shoulders to cut down on reflection. Brace against the glass or adjacent walls to avoid having to rely on a tripod.

Pick your battles. Exhibits like the king crab/pinecone fish and octopus exhibits are REALLY dark, and as the animals react poorly to flash, are designated "no-flash zones." Add in fish that are moving around a lot, and it's easy to come away with a bunch of mediocre shots. The thing about that aquarium that really sets it apart from other similar institutions is its emphasis on freshwater critters. Many of these tanks are small, well-lighted (mostly to support live plants), and shoot surprisingly well if you can time your visit to keep away from crowds.

Also, no offense, but if you're taking kids along, you might consider just letting them enjoy it instead of having to work around your photo sessions...

I would look on YouTube for videos of their layout and displays. Walking blind into a poorly lit aquarium won’t bring the best images. This might give you a better idea of the kit you should bring.

I would bring your fastest lens you have for the dark areas and/or something around 100mm if you have it for the medium to small sized fish.

For the tanks you’re able to touch, try shooting square to the subject through flat glass to minimize water and tank distortion which significantly lowers sharpness. The rubber hood works well, but if you’re unable to get one a paper cup works too. If not using either of those, at least tape over the white logos on your camera with black tape.

Flash through glass into water is horrible to work with. Not only do most aquariums not permit it, but the amount of reflection and refraction that occurs to the light really scatters it. This forces straight on flash pressed against the glass next to the lens which creates a really unnatural look.

If you are allowed to use flash, the best results I have found shooting into tanks is camera square to subject, with an off camera flash at either 11 or 1 o’clock position directly above the subject shooting into the water (not glass). This gives a natural diffused look as the light travels through the water. But you’ll need strong flash as water really eats up light quickly.

Some good info guys. I appreciate all the effort. As far as fast lenses suitable for close images I only have the sigma macro 105mm f2.8 and the canon L 17-40mm f4. I have a large tank at home so I figured I'd experiment with that.
Thanks

That will be a great compliment of lenses for an aquarium! Good luck!

also be aware of reflections... you can see it before taking a picture if you are mindful..

The rubber lens hood is a good idea, but try it at 17mm first to make sure you don't get vignetting. If you do, then figure out how wide you can go before you get the vignetting.

6D is high ISO capable. Even with f4 lens you don't need flash. Nor it makes sense in aquarium.
I was photographing on film and f2.8 lens in aquarium. You really don't have to worry.
As long as you realized what 6D is one of the most capable high ISO cameras.

A means of elimination of reflections from the people's side of aquarium glass is strongly recommended

https://photography-on-the.net …showthread.php?​p=18931132

And a monopod to help steady the camera in the low light shooting -- without unnecessarily impeding the flow of traffic thru the aquarium -- is also strongly advised.

Turn off the camera flash (do not use Green Box mode)...you want the creatures in the water to be exposed properly, not the people standing nearby or the surface of the aquarium glass.

Many people like to use rubber lens hood to cut down unneeded reflections when pressed against the glass.