So it's time for a new tip and today's tip boys and girls is how to get a good image at an aquarium or zoo or any other location that has glass between you and the subject. You know the funny thing about glass? It reflects light! Especially when the other side of the glass is darker than your side. Ever seen those one way mirrors at the police station? You have?!? For shame.
So back to photography. At all costs, try not to use your flash. The flash will just about always bounce right off the glass and right into your lens. The same principles apply as shooting in a dark location. As far as camera settings go, you should choose a large aperture and high iso in order to get the fastest shutter speed with the given light. This would be a situation that you might want to use the shutter priority setting on your camera if you have it. That's the Tv setting for Canon shooters. Pick a shutter speed that allows you to stop motion and let the camera do the rest of the work.
So now your saying, "Tony, I took your advice and did all that but my images are STILL blurry!" Well, you're in luck. If you absolutely have to use flash, here's a little trick I learned. You ready for it? Here it goes. Press your lens right up against the glass. That's it! Basically, if the lens is right up against the glass, it might as well be part of the glass and thus no way for the flash to bounce back into your lens. Don't believe me? Try it out. Go to the nearest window of your house, take one picture a couple of feet away from the window with the flash and another one with the lens against the glass. Try it out and let me know how it goes.
Tony
