Taking Pictures of Fish

T

trafty7

AC Members
Sep 18, 2005
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Some people on this board take some da*n good photos and I was curious if anyone could give me some advice on how to take good photos of my fish...I have a pretty good digital camera (Cannon) that I have to work with.
 
I personally just take mine like I would normally take a picture. Make sure the flash is on. I took my first pics without a flash cause I figured the tank had enough light. They turned out like crap. Also try not to get TOO close to the tank so that the flash doesn't wash everything out. That's about it. If you want to see my pics click on the link for either tank in my sig.
 
The good thing about a digital camera is that you can take a LOT of pictures, and usually one of them will come out awesome. Use the zoom to get in close. It may take 50 trys to get a picture of one fish, or you may get it right the first shot.

reignman: I don't think I've ever got good results using the flash. I find that the best time to take pictures is at night with ONLY the tank light on.

Fish 018-resize.jpg
 
You know I have never tried it at night with *just* the tank light on. I'll have to give it a whirl. I've always taken mine during the day and without the flash it comes out blurry. But admittedly I have mainly taken just full tank shots. That individual fish shot you took looks amazing. Take need's advice! =)
 
Use the flash, but not straight on at the glass - angle of inflection == angle of deflection. Also, try a macro mode on your camera if it has it instead of using the zoom. I've even had good success by dumping a series of still images out of a video clip.
 
I got my hands on a great camera one time, even with that camera a tripod was essential as was putting as much extra light over the tank as possible. I also had to take pictures when the room was dark. My avatar came from those shooting sessions.

Mojo(member here) uses camera flash and camera driven external flash to get some of the pictures he takes. I think he mentions how he sets it up when in one of the picture posts he made.
 
I use a tripod, and set the camera at a slight angle to the glass. If the angle is too great the glass distorts the image, and if it's parallel to the glass I tend to get reflection issues. I use a halogen light source above the subject and the on-camera flash for lighting. I also take lots of photos to get one that looks decent.

Here are a few that I like, taken as described:
http://tinypic.com/e6eiab.jpg
http://tinypic.com/e6eiax.jpg
 
Use a tripod, tripod, tripod! Then you can get away with no flash if your fish aren't moving too fast. Yes, do a slight angle to avoid reflections. BUT BUT BUT... the worst part about tank photography I've seen has nothing to do with photography. Pick up that dirty laundry in the shot, remove the magnetic algae scraper that's in my way, not to mention that thermometer, your tupperware of fish food selection is distracting & ugly, does your kid never pick up his toys? The wall behind the tank need a coat of paint?.. crop it out of the photo. Think about what you're showing the world vs. what they want to see.
 
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