P3D Aquarium Photography

[Tom Deering <tmd@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 7:33 PM -0600 9/28/99, Vince M wrote:
>I just got a roll of slide film back from my visit to the Virginia Marine
>Science Museum in Virginia Beach (saw 'Into the Deep' on their 3D IMAX -
>too cool for words), and regret to say none of my shots came out. Exposure
>looked on the money, but I was hand-holding the camera (note to self;
>always take a tripod) and I just couldn't will the sea turtles, rays, and
>otters to move slowly enough. And of course, my flash crapped out on me.
>So, can anyone point me to a guide to aquarium photography? Maybe I can
>fare better locally, at the Chattanooga aquarium.

My wife likes to visit the local aquariums. I have been disappointed 
by every single photo I have ever attempted there.

I suppose I might be able to get an underwater landscape using 
available light and a very long exposure--I can't recall trying.  But 
I have never been able to take a photo of a moving subject through 
the glass at an aquarium that didn't go straight from the film 
processor into the trash.

While a tripod is always a must for me, there is still not enough 
light to use a fast enough shutter speed to capture anything moving, 
not at least with the emulsions and apertures I use.  Depending on 
your sensitivity to film grain, you could try a fast film like 400 or 
push it faster, but it's not for me.

I think the reason is that the water absorbs the light. I don't 
recall exact meter readings now, but it was pretty dismal.  I tried 
putting my strobe head directly on the glass with a PC cord, but the 
water absorbs light sideways just as easily.

I suspect the problem is that suspended particles diffusing and 
absorbing the light, not to mention reflecting some back at me.  I 
suppose this is more true of the slightly cloudy water one usually 
finds at an aquarium.  I might get better photos in perfectly clear 
ocean water somewhere, but that opens up another kettle of worms.

Cheers,

Tom