Aquarium fish are difficult to shoot... first try

[pab]

Went to the zoo, and while walking through the the busy fish section I stopped to take some photos.

Few things I realized.

1) Reflection of self is hard to eliminate
2) Angles provide reflection of lights coming back at you
3) Its dark, and fish move fast
4) flash cannot be used against glass

Thoughts on how to improve these type of shoots


1)

My main focal point on this was the strange long eel looking fish. He was fast and slithery...




2)

On this photo I decided not to crop out the person standing there with the phone taking the picture. Thought it added character

 

[bentcountershaft]

When I shoot aquariums I always use my 24-70 with the hood and I take a towel. Your 14-24 will work as well but you need the hood. Use the towel to wipe any fingerprint smears off a small area. Place the camera right up to the glass so the hood is actually touching it. Wrap the towel around the end of the hood to block the light seeping in. Reflections be gone.

 

[runnah]

I would suggest using a fish eye lens...

 

[Netskimmer]

Bentcountershaft's idea cool. I haven't tried it, but a CPL filter could come in hand here as well.

 

[kathyt]

I use a 100mm macro lens and really crank my ISO. Most of my shots I have to manually focus. I posted a thread not too long ago of this same thing. I will try and find it. I love shooting at aquariums.

 

[kathyt]

I would suggest using a fish eye lens...

You are such a dork!

 

[pab]

Thanks for the info everyone. Any thoughts on these two photos ?

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

 

[kathyt]

Thanks for the info everyone. Any thoughts on these two photos ?

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

They are not bad. The first one is better because the main focus is on the eel and that is what my eye goes directly to. It can be really hard to separate your subjects in an aquarium setting. Using a shallow DOF and maybe composing a little differently would have worked to your advantage here.

 

[Derrel]

A soft, flexible rubber lens shade used to be the standard procedure for aquarium fishies...but those things have kind of almost disappeared over the last 20 years!

 

[pixelwhip]

I do a bit of stuff shooting cities from observation towers.. the reflections from glass in these is usually pretty awful & I struggled; until this came along; it's callled a 'lens skirt' & is what i'd use to shoot aquarium fishies.

LENSKIRT - Lenskirt

 

[samm]

Put your lens right on the glass if you can .

 

[bentcountershaft]

I do a bit of stuff shooting cities from observation towers.. the reflections from glass in these is usually pretty awful & I struggled; until this came along; it's callled a 'lens skirt' & is what i'd use to shoot aquarium fishies.

LENSKIRT - Lenskirt

That's pricy, but if you use it a lot it's probably worth it. I don't so I'll stick with the towel.

 

[pixelwhip]

I do a bit of stuff shooting cities from observation towers.. the reflections from glass in these is usually pretty awful & I struggled; until this came along; it's callled a 'lens skirt' & is what i'd use to shoot aquarium fishies.

LENSKIRT - Lenskirt

That's pricy, but if you use it a lot it's probably worth it. I don't so I'll stick with the towel.

yes it it a bit pricy.. but you can also make something like this yourself & save alot.. However, owning a lens skirt I can say that it's build quality is excellent & i reckon it'll last my lifetime (& then some).