Blue Planet Aquarium
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Jo
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It's a difficult situation for sure. We went to The Deep in Hull a little while ago, and it was my first time in that kind of set up.
This is one of mine from the day:
Here is the exif to give you an idea:
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
I think your Nifty Fifty will be a god send in this situation
I would also suggest using RAW all the way, so you still have a good chance at recovering exposure if it goes a bit wrong. I'm not really happy with my shots from our trip, and would love the chance to try again. So I'm also going to watch this thread to see if anyone with more experience has better advice.
HTH, Jo xxx
This is one of mine from the day:
Here is the exif to give you an idea:
Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 1600
I think your Nifty Fifty will be a god send in this situation
I would also suggest using RAW all the way, so you still have a good chance at recovering exposure if it goes a bit wrong. I'm not really happy with my shots from our trip, and would love the chance to try again. So I'm also going to watch this thread to see if anyone with more experience has better advice.HTH, Jo xxx
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Blue planet is very expensive!
I went last year and it was at a time where i didnt take photos, but there are some good oppertunities, there is a tunnel where sharks can swim over you!
I beleive shooting through glass needs to be on an angle. but be careful as there are a lot of low light area's.
I went last year and it was at a time where i didnt take photos, but there are some good oppertunities, there is a tunnel where sharks can swim over you!
I beleive shooting through glass needs to be on an angle. but be careful as there are a lot of low light area's.
chriscrafter
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As gazedd states its very expensive, but definitly worth it.
I've been a couple of times and once with the camera. It can get quite busy but photo ops are all over the place.
Make sure that you take a cloth to clean the glass, lens hood, flash (off camera would be better), monopod.
You will need to make sure that the lens hood is right up against the glass to avoid any reflections (particularly if you resort to flash) as this kills the contrast. Make sure that your iso is as high as you can get it yet still be happy with the results.
Try, where possible, to have the camera on TV mode as most of the fish move quite quickly and 1/60 and below will generally result in movement blur. Flash results can be quite harsh (and may cause reflections) unless you can get it of camera.
You will find some areas (especially at the start) quite dark, but there are some much brighter tanks further on, the tropical section is best imho. It is possible to shoot from above some of the tanks and a poloriser can help in taking from this angle (although the loss of light can be a problem).
Have fun
I've been a couple of times and once with the camera. It can get quite busy but photo ops are all over the place.
Make sure that you take a cloth to clean the glass, lens hood, flash (off camera would be better), monopod.
You will need to make sure that the lens hood is right up against the glass to avoid any reflections (particularly if you resort to flash) as this kills the contrast. Make sure that your iso is as high as you can get it yet still be happy with the results.
Try, where possible, to have the camera on TV mode as most of the fish move quite quickly and 1/60 and below will generally result in movement blur. Flash results can be quite harsh (and may cause reflections) unless you can get it of camera.
You will find some areas (especially at the start) quite dark, but there are some much brighter tanks further on, the tropical section is best imho. It is possible to shoot from above some of the tanks and a poloriser can help in taking from this angle (although the loss of light can be a problem).
Have fun
Jo
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I think it might be a good idea to check with the people who run the place to see if this is OK, because we were told at The Deep not to use flash as it can blind the fish, and in some cases shock them to death. It might not be the case where you're going, but I think this might be because a lot of the fish at The Deep are deep sea fish, and it's naturally dark down there. :shrug:chriscrafter
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Good point there Jo.
A lot of people are using flash there (or were the last time i was there anyway) so in this case its probably ok. But as you say it may be best to either watch what others are doing or ask.
I myself mainly use higher iso as the flash shots never look as good anyway. I was told that the fish seem to think the flash is lightning and there are no (as far as i remember) deep sea fish at the blue planet aquarium.
A lot of people are using flash there (or were the last time i was there anyway) so in this case its probably ok. But as you say it may be best to either watch what others are doing or ask.
I myself mainly use higher iso as the flash shots never look as good anyway. I was told that the fish seem to think the flash is lightning and there are no (as far as i remember) deep sea fish at the blue planet aquarium.
Hallo,
I learned the right way to make aqua pictures from a pro.
This is the right way.
Canon Camera 30 D, forbidden to use flash, set the camera on at least 400 Iso, spotmetering on sportsbutton and use servo rapid.
Success assured!
Shihan
I learned the right way to make aqua pictures from a pro.
This is the right way.
Canon Camera 30 D, forbidden to use flash, set the camera on at least 400 Iso, spotmetering on sportsbutton and use servo rapid.
Success assured!
Shihan
stephenb
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I have just been to the huge aquarium at La Rochelle. Not my type of thing normally but it was great fun. Difficult shooting conditions as it is very dark in most areas and the reflections can be a nightmare, I also found focussing can be tricky due to the thickness of the glass tanks. I had to use high ISO and the nifty fifty wide open a couple of times but most shots were with the sigma 17-70 and no flash. Gallery here with exif details,
http://www.pbase.com/stephenb70/la_rochelle
http://www.pbase.com/stephenb70/la_rochelle
Byker28i
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The other great one in France is La Cité de la Mer at Cherbourg. They have a Nucleur sub you can go around as well.
http://www.ville-cherbourg.fr/uk/se..._la_mer_cherbou/la_cite_de_la_mer/default.asp
Most say no flash and have attendants to stop you taking photo's with flash, but it's amazing how many people with compacts ignore this (or don't know how to turn the flash off).
http://www.ville-cherbourg.fr/uk/se..._la_mer_cherbou/la_cite_de_la_mer/default.asp
Most say no flash and have attendants to stop you taking photo's with flash, but it's amazing how many people with compacts ignore this (or don't know how to turn the flash off).
Davec223
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Must confess, I have used flash at aquariums, I did ask and they were quite happy for me to do so, and also pointed out where they were not happy for me to use flash. here is one of my results.
I used the flash off camera at a 45 degree angle to the glass and shot on aperture priority and raw.
I used the flash off camera at a 45 degree angle to the glass and shot on aperture priority and raw.
Davec223
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Lovely shots Dave! They look really clear.
I went to the London Aquarium a few months ago and found it very difficult. One of my son chimping:
I see we were photographing the same species of fish.
TangoFiver
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Yeah I didn't think it was quite worth what they were asking, no doubt all the tanks and upkeep are huge costs to them, but it was a bit much for an hour or two...
Joe
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As high ISO as you can accept the noise.
As fast a lens as you have.
A rubber hood to keep pressed against the glass to eliminate as many reflections as possible.
Old lens cloth to polish the glass.
Some sort of camera support.
As others have said, check about flash use.
As fast a lens as you have.
A rubber hood to keep pressed against the glass to eliminate as many reflections as possible.
Old lens cloth to polish the glass.
Some sort of camera support.
As others have said, check about flash use.
Having kept reef fish for many years I'm yet so see any react badly to a flash being triggered, but I can imagine that if it was mere inches away they might get a bit narked! The vast majority of their senses are in their "latteral line" which runs along the body. This senses vibration and electric fields etc so light is not such an issue to them.
I normally shoot with the flash on a tripod at 45 degrees to the glass, leaving me to move around freely. You won't be able to in this instance but try to block out as many background reflections as you can.
You MUST keep the lens perpendicular to the glass or the refractive index difference of the air/glass/salt water will bend the light beyond acceptable limits. In short, it'll look awful!
Here are a few I took of a friends 17,000 litre "tank" a few months back.
A scribbled Anthia (wreck fish):
A Clown Wrass:
And a rare Tang cross breed:
Interestingly, the guy in question has actually helped Blue Planet to rehabilitate fash that they've had passed on to them from the public. He actually had a baby Hammer Head shark in his stock tanks for a while which they couldn't get to feed. Someone had imported/purchased it as a purse and once it hatch realised what they'd done! It was amazing to watch it gliding around his tank harrasing the other fish in there and yet it was SOOO small, almost cute!
I normally shoot with the flash on a tripod at 45 degrees to the glass, leaving me to move around freely. You won't be able to in this instance but try to block out as many background reflections as you can.
You MUST keep the lens perpendicular to the glass or the refractive index difference of the air/glass/salt water will bend the light beyond acceptable limits. In short, it'll look awful!
Here are a few I took of a friends 17,000 litre "tank" a few months back.
A scribbled Anthia (wreck fish):
A Clown Wrass:
And a rare Tang cross breed:
Interestingly, the guy in question has actually helped Blue Planet to rehabilitate fash that they've had passed on to them from the public. He actually had a baby Hammer Head shark in his stock tanks for a while which they couldn't get to feed. Someone had imported/purchased it as a purse and once it hatch realised what they'd done! It was amazing to watch it gliding around his tank harrasing the other fish in there and yet it was SOOO small, almost cute!
Volitans Lionfish (Pterois volitans) BTW