Yesterday’s blog talked about taking the family to an aquarium, and today’s blog article is going to cover a few photo tips that are special to aquarium photography.
Aquarium photography can be one of the hardest challenges for a photographer.
Here are some of the reasons these shots are difficult – the lighting in these situations are usually quite dark and water is often cloudy, not to mention the thickness of the surrounding glass, and hyperactive kids, all makes for a challenging situation for getting good photos.
Follow these tips for better Aquarium Photos:
Tip 1: Bring your digital SLR camera. I know we all love our point-and-shot cameras that fit into our purse or pocket. However, for aquarium photography using a digital SLR camera has better chances of getting the shot you were hoping for!
Tip 2: Use a Fast Lens. Now that you have your SLR camera with you then you can slip on a fast lens. When you buy a digital SLR camera lens you will notice it has an f number on the box. The lower the f number the faster the lens. At the aquarium you might want to try using a lens with an aperture of f/2.8 or faster. Also, if your lens has some sort of Image Stabilization and f/2.8 this is even better! One of the benefits to a lens like this, is that with a wide aperture, and the shallow depth of field, this can help to make the dirty glass you are shooting through almost invisible.
Tip 3: Faster Shutter Speed. One of the main problems with aquarium photography is that you need a shutter speed fast enough to prevent a blurry picture of a moving fish, shark or whatever you find in the tank. yet you also need to allow enough time for light to enter the camera so the photo isn’t too dark.
To achieve this you will need to make your shutter speed faster by bumping up your ISO setting to at least 800, possibly as far as 1600 if your camera goes that high. If needed when you get home, you can edit your photo to get rid of some of the “noise” caused from using the high ISO setting on your camera. Or if you don’t want to do any photo editing then try 
using good panning skills with slower shutter speeds and this might result in a photo that is acceptable.
Tip 4: Turn off your camera flash. This one is important because a flash of light from your camera and the light reflects off the glass and usually results in an photo that is ruined! Anyone who has taken pictures that include glass, will tell you that reflections can be a photographers nightmare. To help eliminate glass reflections, try also using a rubber lens hood and keep the front of it in direct contact with the glass.
Tip 5: Photograph more than just the Fish! The aquarium has lots of interesting photos like children watching the fish, and 
other natural things like awesome coral, anemones, and plants that can make for a good shot!
Take more than one photograph of any particular subject too. Shoot from different positions and distances from the tank.
This will give you more than one photo to choose from later on when you want to digitally scrap the photos.
Tip 6: Use Photo-Editing in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to get the right photos for digital scrapbooking projects.
I f you know the basics of photo editing then you can improve your aquarium photos when you get home. Here are a few things you might want to do in Photoshop or Elements: Tweak the white-balance to combat the fluorescent aquarium lights to bring the colors to life. Work with the contrast, especially in the mid-tones by adjusting fill light, blacks and clarity. In Photoshop or Elements use the healing brush to get rid of floating debris which can be a distraction in a photo.
Lastly, don’t over-sharpen when you have been shooting at high ISO it brings out the “noise and grain”, so over-sharpening can enhance the noise, be careful don’t over do it when using this correction feature.
Tip 7: Scrap your aquarium photos! Now you have all the great family memories, and great photos from your aquarium adventure it is time to preserve the memories by scrapping them!
Taking your photos and scrapping them is a great way to remember the fun you had at the Aquarium. When you get home you can scrapped them! Make a album, a mouse pad and more when you digitally scrap your photos!
Hope these photo tips help you to get great aquarium photos on your next family adventure!
Have a nice day!
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Learn Photo Editing in Photoshop or Elements:
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Removing Shadows and Lightening Photos in Photoshop Elements
Removing Demon-Looking Red-Eye in Photoshop
Removing Demon-Looking Red-Eye in Photoshop Elements
Getting Rid of Wrinkles, Zits, or Moles in Photoshop Elements
Whitening Teeth within Photoshop Elements
Adjusting Skin Tones and Digi Tanning in Photoshop Elements
Removing Wrinkles, Lines, and Bags in Photoshop Elements
Airbrushing Portrait Photos in Photoshop Elements 7
Convert Photos to Black and White in Photoshop Elements
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