taking pictures

[bloo1987]

Hey guys. I would like to take good pictures of my tank. But they always turn out with glare. Can anybody tell/show me how to take good pictures?

[Reefscape]

Hope this helps a little...I always struggle to get good pictures of my reef, just dont havhe the nack i suppose..

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/2/tips

Niko

[Catpicklesdog]

Yeah any of you who have taken really good photos tell me how you get the *&%$ fish to sit still:laugh:

Good link Niko I'll try some of those tips.

[Reefscape]

Glue them to the Glass !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Niko

[gatotsu77]

The "trick" so to speak is to have a lot of ambient light or flash pods and to utilize a very fast shutter speed. (and to be very patient... the last time I took some pictures of my fish, I spent 3 hours sitting by the tank with my camera.) Slow shutter speeds catch motion blurrs very easily. A fast shutter speed will allow you to catch details of a moving object as if it were sitting still. Try shooting from a slight angle if you are using the on-board flash, and that will help deflect the flash to some degree. Another trick is to put a little bit of tissue or wax paper over the flash itself to diffuse the flash a little bit. It is really easiest to just have a lot of ambient light (i.e. a well lit room on a sunny day) and have some patience. I'll link a couple pictures I've taken of my fish for you guys to check out. (and a couple of insects that I got just because I can :-P) I have more pictures in a forum under general freshwater titled "Taking a good picture!" If you would like to see more pictures, feel free to ask me, and I would be glad to post more.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c70/animefan73/IMG_0914.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c70/animefan73/IMG_0867.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c70/animefan73/IMG_1033.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c70/animefan73/IMG_1101.jpg

[bloo1987]

say what if i have a digital camera? that wouldnt work?

[gatotsu77]

say what if i have a digital camera? that wouldnt work?

The pictures I linked are taken on a Canon 300D. (Canon Digital Rebel) Digital photography of fish is much easier than film, since you have instant results for the shot you just took, rather than waiting up to 2 days for photo processing.

[Germanman]

great advice than so much!

[Mr.Firemouth]

Here are som etips for you with your camera. After reading this sit down with your camera and try to take some pics with these tips. Whatever you don't understand ask about and I will dial you in to where you can take very nice pics.

For camera settings I recommend....
1. Set your white balance before you take the photo. You will get better color resolution in the pic.
2. Set your iso to 400 if possible/
3. Set your lens to MACRO. there should be a flower/tulip icon.
4. Get the camera as close to the tank as possible and then zoom in as close as possible while maintaining focus.
5. Make sure the outside glass is clean and that the algae has been removed also.
6. Make sure the room is completely dark except for the tank lights.
7. Take one pic w/flash and one without.
8. Try taking one pic on auto setting w/macro and one in manual setting...M...SHOULD BE THE ICON.
9. If you use an slr use a 105mm lens.

For Photoshoppe...
1. adjust levels first.
2. Adjust contrast second.
3. Adjust Hue/saturation next.
4. Adjust Photo filter color temp next. If you don't have this feature don't worry.
5. Adjust size next. 450X325 is good with 10 as file size if it ask about quality.
6. Adjust sharpness last after resizing. Adjust sharpen edges. That should be enough.

If you ever need photos shopped for you send them to me in PM and I will edit and send back.

[Catpicklesdog]

Hey that's what the flower button is for (I've only had this camera 5 yrs!!!!!) This is a photo I took using some of those tips and next time I'll turn the pump off!!!!

[Mr.Firemouth]

If you used the tips I posted Catpicklesdog, I would suggest taking upto 10 at a time of the subject in question. Then pick the best shot of the 10 and work with it. I sometimes take up to 30 pics to get one like this...

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k44/mrfiremouth/fishroom0182.jpg

or this one...

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k44/mrfiremouth/fishroom0012.jpg

To have some real fun use a magnifying glass in front of the camera...
check out this one...

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k44/mrfiremouth/macros/hammer.jpg

and this one...

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k44/mrfiremouth/macros/cleaner.jpg

[Catpicklesdog]

They're fantastic!!!!!!!

[Reefscape]

Mr Fm....i take my hat off to you...The pictures are really great, i am really impressed...

Niko

[Mr.Firemouth]

Thanks. I have a Sony DSCH-1 camera. I really didn't understand it so I made a list of questions and stopped by my camera shop and asked them to explain it all to me. Now I am only limited by camera lenses. I will probably get a SLR camera sometime this year for killer Macros. Here is one that took forever to get focused...(remember this fish was moving)

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k44/mrfiremouth/fishroom0042.jpg

and this one was hard because the camera kept focusing on the plants...

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k44/mrfiremouth/thelab0042.jpg

and this is my favorite because the pic is in thirds from top to bottom...

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k44/mrfiremouth/1e94aba3.jpg

When trying to take the pic try to stay off center for a better effect. If the picture has 3 sides it is more balanced and will be more dramatic. Photoshoppe can enhance things even more like black backgrounds which I haven't figured out yet.

Use the grayscale feature for this effect...

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k44/mrfiremouth/blackandwhite.jpg

[bloo1987]

Hey THANKS Firemouth. the tips you gave I tried and it works at a certain distance for me. I think it is a pretty clear picture. Not pro looking like some people out there, but good enough for me.

Copperband Butterfly
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p54/bloo1987/fish%20tank/DSCF1714.jpg

Candy Cane with Ricordia in the back
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p54/bloo1987/fish%20tank/DSCF1699.jpg

Frogspawn
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p54/bloo1987/fish%20tank/DSCF1683.jpg

Green Bubble
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p54/bloo1987/fish%20tank/DSCF1685.jpg

Green Favia
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p54/bloo1987/fish%20tank/DSCF1695.jpg

True Perc
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p54/bloo1987/fish%20tank/DSCF1701.jpg

[Catpicklesdog]

That one of your true perc is good Bloo.

[Germanman]

cool pics

[bloo1987]

thanks cat for the comment. yeah it is nice picture. it was kind of hard to get a picture with both my clowns in there, but got one at least.

[gatotsu77]

Hey THANKS Firemouth. the tips you gave I tried and it works at a certain distance for me. I think it is a pretty clear picture. Not pro looking like some people out there, but good enough for me.

Those are some nice shots bloo. :-) What kind of camera are you using?

[bloo1987]

Thanks. I am using a Fujifilm Finepix F460.