Paris Aquarium Photography – Settings, Reflections & Ethics

Aquarium lighting is deliberate—recreate natural ambiance without stressing animals.

1. Core Settings (Starter Baseline)

• Mode: Manual or Aperture Priority.
• Aperture: f/2.8–f/4 for subject isolation (avoid super shallow causing focus misses on moving fish).
• ISO: 800–1600 (modern sensors handle noise; prioritize shutter speed).
• Shutter: ≥1/160 for swift species, 1/80 for slower jellyfish.

2. Reflection Control

3. Glass & Distance

Place lens close (not touching) to reduce distortion; watch for condensation or micro-scratches—recompose rather than force focus.

4. Focus Strategy

• Continuous AF (AI Servo / AF-C) for sharks.
• Single point focus for stationary coral details.

5. Color & White Balance

• Auto WB usually acceptable; for artistic control set Kelvin ~4500–5000 to retain natural cool tone.

6. Ethical Etiquette

• No flash—startle risk and specular highlight pollution.
• Keep gear compact; avoid blocking children’s view lines.

7. Creative Prompts

• Capture predator / prey in same frame layer.
• Wait for bubble trail behind a passing fish—a dynamic motion accent.
• Silhouette a shark against lighter mid-depth zone.

Bottom Line

Prioritize animal welfare and narrative composition: controlled reflections + adaptive shutter choices produce emotive, respectful imagery.