Tanked, weren't you the one that had the fixed focal length lenses? If so, when you're shooting tonight try this exercise:
BEFORE you try your FTS:
1. Put your 10x lens on your camera manual focus and full auto exposure.
2. Leave the lights in your room on as your would normally have them, don't turn anything off or on for the shots.
3. Here's the hard one: If you don't have a lens hood, looks like this:
kind of invent one using stiff fabric or a funnel like those things you put on a cat when they can't lick an injury or some thin cardboard, you just want something that light can't get through that you can rig onto your camera, I use my hands.
4. Without the hood on your lens, get really close to your tank. Figure out where the focus is for your lens and focus on something in your tank that won't move about, like a rock or coral. While your camera is there, look at the glass of your tank, do you see the glare on your glass? Put the hood on your camera and hold it back in the same spot, do you see the glare go away? Do it several times to notice the effect of the hood blocking the light.
5. Now, do the same thing on a bigger scale. Stand a few feet in front of your tank and look ONLY at the glass. Evaluate the light source of your glare.
6. Now, remove the glare. Turn off the lights in your room OR use a black piece of poster board, some cardboard or foam core to go between the light and the tank (this is called a gobo- go between, very technical)
By doing the exercise in miniature, it should help you figure out how to deal with your problem. You're going to have the exact same issues shooting tidal pools this weekend. The circular polarizing filter is very expensive but effective at scattering that light around to help you get a clear water surface. We can use Elements to reduce the effect IF the glare contains information. If it is completely whited out then you won't be able to get that information back. We can bring out the information that is there using Elements to even out your exposure. When you're out on the shore this weekend, wear dark clothing that won't be reflected in the water and try to bring a dark solid colored pillowcase or piece of fabric for someone to hold to help reduce the glare.
Ultimately you have to come to terms with shooting glass. You can enhance the effect of the glare for "artsy" looks or you can do your best to eliminate it.
C
