ddrum Loc: San Diego

I think I might like to go back when it's less crowded so I can take my time. It's hard to place myself away from glare off the glass. Is it better to get as close as you can and off to an angle? One guy there had an assistant who was holding a large 3 light flash on a tall handle. That's way out of my knowledge range.

colorful reef


California Gerabaldi


Moray Eel


Lionfish


This guy looked 3D

flytyer57 Loc: Mountain Home, Arkansas

I don't know how the pics turned out for the guy with the assisstant, but these look pretty daran good. I dont see any reflections from the glass.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

You gotta be a fish guy if you have a Moray Eel in your tank.

I thought guppies were top of the line.

Sarge

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

You DO NOT want to be using a flash in the aquarium. In addition to the stress on the fish, it also tends to bother the viewers. Your guy with the assistant and three bulb flash was either courting disaster, or someone they hired to take special shots.

1) Clean kid fingerprints off glass.
2) Put Lens DIRECTLY on glass. (no filters, please)
3) No Flash. Depending on the ambient light, adjust aperture.

Since you're holding the camera fairly steady, shutter speed is not too critical.

Here's a couple I took at the National Aquarium in Baltimore about three years ago. Pure dumb luck.

caroledwinell Loc: SF Bay Area/eastbay

I was thinking the same thing. Every aquarium I've ever been to have signs posted 'no flash!' Solution? iPhone 3Gs. No flash available. No problem.

anemone/Monterey Bay Aquarium


disney submarine ride


jellies/Monterey Bay Aquarium

Mudpuppy Loc: Michigan

this

and great shots - i don't see any glare and i think that guy you saw was a 1 upper.. he was trying to upper decker you.. not sure how flash would work unless you were in the water..

and cheapest fish to get for a kid's aquarium? feeder fish at about $0.25 each..

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Choosing the right ISO is helpful in capturing DOF. These shots were ISO 1600.

Photographed at the Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach CA.

Tropical Reef


Small Reef Anemonies


Angel Fish Wannabe (Banggai Cardinal Fish)


Angel Fish Wannabe (Banggai Cardinal Fish)


Moon Jellyfish


Golden Jellyfish


Tropical Mini-Reef


Ghost Jellyfish


Cleaner Prawn


More Cleaner Prawn


Diver in Main Tank


Pacific Spiney Lobster


Tidepool School


Large Green Anemone


Large Pink Anemone


Sleeping Frog

bob_71 Loc: Severna Park, MD

I could not agree with you more! The materials the tanks are made of really want to reflect light, many of the habitats in the tanks are highly prone to have lots of sediment, the colors of the lighting varies with each habitat and the refraction of the light (and focus) varies radically with the distance of the fish from the sides of the tank. These were shot in Baltimore at the national aquarium...they prohibited flash ONLY for a very few species, such as the octopus. Most of mine were shot without flash. As often as I preach about setting your ISO at 100 and leave it there, these extremely low light conditions resulted in my shooting mostly at ISO's of 1600 and 3200 without flash. These were shot with a Canon 5D Mark II using a Canon 70-200mm IS II lens. All were hand held due to the crowded conditions.

Bob

Shot in the Tropical Rainforest section

ddrum Loc: San Diego

Excellent photos. I love those moon jellies.

rballard29 Loc: Albuquerque, NM

If you have a rubber lens hood it will allow you to place your lens against the glass without touching the actual lens housing against the glass. The rubber hood will also help you to hold the camera steady during the shoot.

howie Loc: Jersey Shore

The jellies are great, here are my wrasses in my 200 gallon, I just turn off all the lights in the room and with the metal halides I don't need flash...i just need a better camera not this point and shoot thing i'm using

A six line


a fairy


fancy Australian


a Luna


a long nose wrasse


Fancy Wrasse

ddrum Loc: San Diego

Fantastic aquarium you have. It's probably very relaxing watching them swim around.

rballard29 Loc: Albuquerque, NM

Beautiful photos, Howie. The camera is working fine in your capable hands.

howie Loc: Jersey Shore

Thanks guy, do you mind if I show a few more..

A rare Golden Angel and a File fish


Flame Angel


A mated pair of Anthias


Two types of Percula Clowns


Blue Chromis, damsel

ianhargraves1066 Loc: NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida

The trick if you have a separate flash gun is to hold it (Flashead) in contact with the glass. If not a piece of black card between the built in flash and the glass will stop any reflections coming back into the lens. But as other posters note, you dont seem to have that problem. Great shots. Take a trip to the Atlanta Aquarium, You will be amazed.

Ian