Shooting Public Aquariums

[princer7]

How are you shooting the big aquariums? I went to the Baltimore Aquarium shortly after getting the camera 1 1/2 years ago (and NO experience). The pictures turned out ~ok~ but I appreciate any tips you could lend for the next aquarium trip. I plan on hitting Sea World, Moody Gardens, and the Dallas World Aquarium this summer.

I think last time I shot with the 28mm f/2.8 lens without a flash. Pictures were not as sharp as I would have liked. No monopod and some were shot at an angle as it was busy that day. Here is my shots from the trip last year. Be kind as they were some of the first aquatic pictures with this camera. http://jpaustin.dyndns.org/gallery/W...ium/index.html

My arsenal is:

Canon 20D
Manfrotto 190MF3 Tripod w/ 322RC2 Grip Action Head
Manfrotto 685B Monopod (no head yet)
2 - 550EX flashes
Off Camera Shoe Cord II
Lightsphere II
EF 28mm 1:2.8
EF 50mm USM 1:1.4
EF 85mm USM 1:1.8
EF 100mm Macro 2.8
EFS 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6
EF 28-135mm USM IS 1:3.5-5.6
EF 75-300mm USM IS 1:4-5.6

[janetg]

your file sizes are HUGE! and took forever to load, so i quit looking...

if you optimize the files sizes..you can take it from 552 to to 127 and your pages will load MUCH quicker...

i did beautiful fish...it's the same BASIC size...just optimized...

[NoLight]

I have found that when using a flash against glass touch your lens or hood to the glass.

[AndrewCCM]

Hmm.. Not sure if Dallas Aquarium allows photography.. I heard not.. but just hearsay...

Oh and don't forget to take a "Fish-Eye". HAHA.. I know..Lame. :(

Andrew
Crystal Clear Media

[princer7]

Hmmm. Not sure about that one either. I've taken pictures at Moody Gardens before but last time I went to the aquarium in Dallas, I was chaperoning a group of school aged kids. Best to watch them vs taking pictures.

[princer7]

I've got to redo my website. When constraining the files to a size they looked bad. I use the directory for storing all my pics including the larger unscaled ones. I've just not touched that directory yet.