Acquarium photography tips please...

[Zeealex]

Got a Tripod, My lovely Pentax K-r and it's Kit 18-55mm lens that's all really.

What settings/tips can you give?

I went to the same aquarium last year with the Kodak, didn't get very good results due to the cameras age and type/lack of experience.

and i might be going back in the next couple of weeks.

I'll obviously be using the tripod where possible, but anything else I need to keep in mind? anything from composition to shutter/aperture settings is greatly appreciated


PLUS what about Zoo photography as well, what would be the best way of tackling that?

 

[Zeealex]

oh what wonderful advice! not...

 

[Hoogle]

Wow the Patience of people these days!!!!

Aquariums tend to be dark and water more lit up this. also between water and your camera is glass/ Glass causes Glare and bluriness.

Best advice I can give is get a glass hood for your camera it looks like a mini soft box but screws on the end of your lens which then fits agains the glass not letting in light leaks so your pics come perfectly in focus and no light reflection meaning you can actually turn on your flash to take pics. and you really can not shoot against glass with a flash on without a device like this.

 

[Zeealex]

i'm not liking that first comment hoogle...

but lens hood it is, provided i can get one in time.

 

[MikeMc]

It depends on what your shooting. I have shot in many different aquariums with and without flash. Long exposures even with a tripod usually don't work, as the FISH move...So get a high "ASA" in your camera, set the meter to "spot" and set F8 and bracket your exposures around what the meter tells you. If you shoot the tropical fish...you will have more light...good luck and take lots of images!

 

[Isnwm]

Open your aperture as wide as you can, to allow more light in. With your 18-55, I'm guessing 3.5 would be the widest, but that's at 18mm.... At 40-50, you're probably in the 4.5-5.3 aperture. And shoot about 1/60 of a second... It's slow enough to allow more light in, but fast enough to not have motion blur. Ultimately you need a faster lens... Like a 50 f/2.0. But for what you have, I'd just set it at 40-50mm and open the aperture up, and 1/60 shutter speed. Good luck.

 

[RTContent]

The one thing that hasn't been said yet that I would consider to be the most important thing is buying yourself a polarizing filter. This is a must when shooting against glass/water as it minimizes reflections.

Here's an example:

 

[rickymartin]

What an amazing both pics!