Photographing Sea Life in Aquariums
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 @ 00:35
Aquariums are among the most popular sites for taking photographs. Especially for the amateur photographer out on a Sunday outing with his family, they seem deceptively easy photo locations and it is not until you see the finished result that you realize that the photos you got were actually disappointing. This is due primarily to two problems: The water in the aquarium tank as well as the glass surrounding them.
The tank used to house the aquarium has to be strong to hold that large amount of water. Because of this, the glass will generally be very thick; sometimes up to a foot or even more. Because of the thickness of the glass, it will scatter light to some degree. To overcome this problem, be prepared to switch your camera's focus setting to manual if its auto-focus is having trouble locking in on the subject you are trying to photograph.
As for getting around the problem of photographing a subject in water, simply pay attention to your subject's position in the water before attempting the shot. Try to position the camera in such a way as to shoot from the direction in which the water is at its clearest. You have to realize that there will be sediment in the water such as food particles and fish waste. If you try getting your photographs right after there has been a feeding, you may also get lots of extra air bubbles in the water that were created from the fishes' frantic feeding activities. So, not only should you plan the angle of your shot, but you should also try to plan its timing. Find out when the fish are fed and try to plan taking your photographs before that time, when the water will be at its clearest.
Also consider light sources and make maximum use of them. It is essential to realize that with all that water, not to mention the thick glass, you can and will get a large amount of glare. Plan to frame your subject in such a way as to minimize the problem and you will still get some excellent shots of the amazing life to be found in aquarium facilities.
