Aquariums are exciting places, filled with marine life that make for captivating images, making aquariums ideal settings for photographers looking for unique images. One challenge photographers face in these settings, however, is dealing with unwanted reflections caused by glass enclosures – in this article I’ll look into using CPL filters (Circular Polarizing Filters) to eliminate reflections and provide tips for creating the best aquarium photography experience possible.
Understanding the Issue: Reflections in Aquariums
Aquariums feature large glass or acrylic panels that separate their aquatic environments from visitors, protecting marine life while providing for clear viewing. However, this also creates frustrating reflections when trying to take photographs – often caused by overhead lighting sources, external ambient lights, flash photography from other visitors, light hitting water surfaces reflecting other patrons or simply reflections off other patrons’ clothing and walls.
Solution: Circular Polarizing (CPL) Filters
Circular Polarizing filters (also referred to as CPL filters) are essential tools for photographers attempting to reduce reflections in their photographs and control reflections on surfaces like glass or water surfaces. CPL filters work by selectively blocking certain polarized light waves – this reduces or eliminates reflections altogether on these surfaces and is the key way CPL filters work effectively in an aquarium environment:
Choose the Right CPL Filter: CPL filters come in various sizes and thread diameters to fit different lens. Make sure your camera lens has the appropriate filter size.
Install Your CPL Filter: To attach the CPL filter securely onto your camera lens, screw it on like any other filter would – using threaded and non-threaded threading will do.
Observe the Effect: Use either your viewfinder or camera’s LCD screen to observe the scene, rotating your CPL filter while watching for reflections in glass surfaces. By turning it, you will find that you can control how much of an effect is eliminated by turning up or down on its filter setting.
Find Your Ideal Position: Rotate the CPL filter until you achieve the desired level of reflection reduction or elimination, and watch as reflections dissipate as its effect is aligned with those causing them.
After finding the ideal CPL filter placement, you may need to adjust your camera’s exposure settings (aperture, shutter speed and ISO) in order to compensate for the diminished light due to your filter. This helps compensate for its reduced light output.
Tips for successful aquarium photography
In addition to using a CPL filter to reduce reflections, here are a few other helpful hints for taking stunning images at an aquarium:
Utilize a fast lens. A lens with an aperture setting of f/2.8 or lower will let in more light into your camera, providing sharp and well-exposed photos even in low-light aquarium environments.
Avoid Flash: Flash photography can produce unwanted glare and reflections on glass surfaces, so try shooting without flash or using a diffuser to soften light instead. Flashes may startle marine life and ruin photos!
Be patient and mindful. Aquariums can quickly become overcrowded, so take your time waiting for the ideal moment to capture your images. Be mindful of other visitors by not blocking their view or creating distractions.
Tripod: To maintain stability and eliminate camera shake, using a tripod whenever possible is key for keeping photos steady and shaking-free. This is especially important in low light conditions when slower shutter speeds may be required. Just be mindful that they could also become trip hazards that cannot be allowed on certain courses.
Put Your Lens As Close As Possible. Bringing the lens as close as possible to the glass surface (even touching it!) can often eliminate reflections and provide a clearer image.
Do not shoot at an angle. Since glass surfaces tend to be curved, shooting from an acute angle will only distort your image further. Instead, keep your camera at a 90-degree angle with regard to the glass surface. Use a lens hood. When shooting against glass surfaces or mirrors, special lens hoods may help minimize reflections from appearing in images.
Alternative, try experimenting with angles. Counterintuitively, photographing through water may require taking pictures at an angle instead of through glass; an angle may help.
Of course, scratches in glass can often make shots more challenging; try to get as close to avoid unnecessary distractions in your shots.
Shooting in an aquarium can be an amazing photography experience for photographers. Unfortunately, dealing with reflections can be challenging – however by using a Circular Polarizing filter (or lens hood) and following these tips you can overcome this hurdle and capture stunning, reflection-free images of marine life within. So grab your camera, head to your nearest aquarium, and start experimenting with CPL filters to take aquarium photography to new levels!