Just to let everyone know that most of the museums, aquariums, are free on the first Wednesday of the month in San Francisco. So I plan to go to some of them tomorrow.
Any tips for aquarium or museum shooting would be helpful. Most art museums don't allow for tripods and flashes. Any hints on compensating for this would be helpful.
Press your camera lens up against the glass of the aquarium to steady it cause the lighting is gonna be weak in most cases... I did this shot that way:
I'm planning to use a circular polarizer filter. I know it show help with reflection on the glass, but is it advisable to used in a dark aquarium atmosphere.
I'm planning to use a circular polarizer filter. I know it show help with reflection on the glass, but is it advisable to used in a dark aquarium atmosphere.
no because it will slow your shutter speed down. If you put the camera right up on the glass, the reflections will not be a problem.
I had a lot of fun last week at the Monterey aquarium. Their displays of jellyfish are outstanding! Here is one I caught, but I have dozens more. I used the ambient light in the tanks, as they were well lit. No flash. I did not press up against the glass, as it limited composition, but by pushing ISO up to 1600 I could get decent exposures, with only a minimum of noise.
Ahhh, that reminds me to make sure I schedule enough time to get back to Monterey next time in'm in CA! I think the last time I went was...1997?!
I've had success both with and without flash in shooting aquariums. If the water is very clear, an off-camera flash works great, but then the lens definitely neeeds to be against the glass.
If the water has any particulates to speak of, the results with flash will be "unpolishable turds".
Would an on camera flash, slowing the shutter speed or a combination of both be more desirable?
You can TRY the on-camera flash, but I've had poor luck with this. The reason is that for most large aquariums, the glass is quite thick, and there's enough glass there for the flash to bouce off the second surface and back at the camera. The farther you can get the flash from the lens the better.
I agree with John. Don't use a circular polarizer. Just get that camera stable, and put the lense right up on the glass, and leave the shutter open as long as you need it.
Here's my favorite aquarium shot - I took it at Sea World.
This shot was done from outside an aquarium,, albeit a tiny one compared to where you'll be.
I used my rubber lense hood to press against the glass. This helped me steady the camera and reduce reflection. it also is a little forgiving and could be moved side to side a bit.
