Flash Photography Dangerous in Aquarium Setting: At a public aquarium recently, a gaggle of tourists using flash apparently caused a tuna fish to become disoriented and swim at the...

MDI Mainer

At a public aquarium recently, a gaggle of tourists using flash apparently caused a tuna fish to become disoriented and swim at the tank wall at full speed, resulting in the death of the specimen in full (and gory) view of the visitors.

davidb1879

Re: MDI Mainer. I'm glad you brought that to our attention. Davidb1879.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Wow!

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

MDI Mainer wrote:

At a public aquarium recently, a gaggle of tourists using flash apparently caused a tuna fish to become disoriented and swim at the tank wall at full speed, resulting in the death of the specimen in full (and gory) view of the visitors.

Increasingly, I’m trying to photograph using ambient light. In addition to panicking animals, flash can result in harsh shadows and light falloff as distance from the source increases.

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Sad deal. News at 11. Charlie dead at 65 years of age. Blunt trauma.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

MDI Mainer wrote:

At a public aquarium recently, a gaggle of tourists using flash apparently caused a tuna fish to become disoriented and swim at the tank wall at full speed, resulting in the death of the specimen in full (and gory) view of the visitors.

I suspect that's "gaggle" of tourists using flash was the problem that cause the fish to panic! I single burst of light may not have caused such a catastrophic event. I know that flash and other forms of artificial ligh have been used in underwater photography for many years without incident but that's in natural surroundings- perhaps in aquariums, under confined conditions, such lighing can be tantamount to cruelty.

I have similar reservations about photographing animals at zoos. I find some visitors get in too close, making alarming noises to attract animals' attention and doing other things that I consider invasive.

As a kid, if I didn't visit the Bronx Zoo, I would have never seen an elephant or a hippopotamus in the flesh. In Spring and Summer, the Lions would roam free in an inaccessible area and I loved that concept. I hate to see wild animals in cages. We should respect them.

MDI Mainer

More information:

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/fish-killed-by-flash-photography-this-is-why-flash-isnt-allowed-at-aquariums?utm_term=992DEDD7-526A-412A-BE46-95D0145392A1&utm_campaign=75AC6D4F-39F0-41CB-A47C-7C5D939AC64B&utm_medium=email&utm_content=A78AE246-3299-4ACA-B3BE-BA9828C471F3&utm_source=SmartBrief

And the actual video:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Wellthatsucks/comments/106fop6/tuna_fish_tried_to_break_on_through_to_the_other

I'm not sure which aquarium it was or where this happened. Speculation is that it was either the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta or the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan (due to the presence of whale sharks)

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Well, who is going to bring the rest of the salad?

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Using a flash in an aquarium, wouldn't you get a reflection of the flash in the glass?

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

JohnSwanda wrote:

Using a flash in an aquarium, wouldn't you get a reflection of the flash in the glass?

Not if you shoot at an angle to the glass - but the idiot wouldn’t necessarily know that ….. he wouldn’t have to get a good photo to scare the fish.

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

I suspect that's "gaggle" of tourists us... (show quote)

You are causing me to have flashbacks of my youth. Our neighbor owned the local zoo known as "Jungleland" which was the home of Tarzan's "Cheetah" chimpanzee and one of the many MGM lions. Jungleland was originally Louis Goebel's Lion Farm. Located in Thousand Oaks, CA about 40 miles north of Los Angeles, it offered close access to Hollywood. We lived about 5 long blocks from it. At night they would feed the lions freshly slaughtered beef. We could hear the lions roaring as they readied for the feed. It wasn't uncommon for an animal to escape and the local elementary school would be in lockdown state until they found the escapee. There are several books and a movie about the famous "Mabel Stark" whom I personally knew growing up. I could write my own book on growing up in that town. It was marvelous.

In regards to fish and animal, we are their guardians. Be kind to them (from a distance).

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

MDI Mainer wrote:

At a public aquarium recently, a gaggle of tourists using flash apparently caused a tuna fish to become disoriented and swim at the tank wall at full speed, resulting in the death of the specimen in full (and gory) view of the visitors.

If the fish was panicking, it would be swimming away, not towards the source of light.

A flash of light naturally occurs in the sea. Not only do some sea creatures emit light, the silver body of many fishes naturally flash when it reflects sunlight. Multiple flashes may have looked like a school of prey fish or a feeding frenzy and triggered the hunter instinct of the tuna to swim fast towards its general location to catch a meal.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

MDI Mainer wrote:

At a public aquarium recently, a gaggle of tourists using flash apparently caused a tuna fish to become disoriented and swim at the tank wall at full speed, resulting in the death of the specimen in full (and gory) view of the visitors.

What Aquarium? Did you witness this? Did you duly report it to administration? Where there signs against flash?

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

I used to go to the zoo to take photos of the animals. Then I got really sad at how the larger animals have been incarcerated for the enjoyment of humans. That’s when I stopped going to zoos. Period. If I want to see large animals, I go to them, in their natural habitats.

I do not subscribe universally to the argument that larger animals are better off in protective environment of zoos. They have happily survived just fine in their natural environs for millenniums.

Humans have disrespected and tortured this planet, and its inhabitants for too long. Mother Earth will prevail and she will do what is necessary to survive.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

MDI Mainer wrote:

At a public aquarium recently, a gaggle of tourists using flash apparently caused a tuna fish to become disoriented and swim at the tank wall at full speed, resulting in the death of the specimen in full (and gory) view of the visitors.

Sushi in the snack shop for a limited-time offering!