Aquarium Photography

[Marc]

One aspect of keeping fish I have never really given much thought it photography. I've quickly discovered that it's not such a case of just point and shoot with fish and tanks.

Even with my $3000 digital SLR (for editorial purposes) I have still not managed to get and great shots.

Anyone have any experience with settings, tips and lighting conditions etc for shooting fish?

[Sloory]

I'm no expert but here are some article's i searched.

Fish on Film (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_2/cav2i2/aquarium_photography/photography.htm)

Mostly Cichlids (http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/5491/photography.html)

hope they help anyways.

[Marc]

Thanks Darren, I'll have a read now :)

[joz]

One aspect of keeping fish I have never really given much thought it photography. I've quickly discovered that it's not such a case of just point and shoot with fish and tanks.

Even with my $3000 digital SLR (for editorial purposes) I have still not managed to get and great shots.

Anyone have any experience with settings, tips and lighting conditions etc for shooting fish?[/b]

Ummm Pass,have you checked my pics???

:blush: Embarrassment

[w_croft]

Check "The Showcase" forum for examples of my photo's, if you like them, then the way I take photo's are:

(a) no flash
macro setting
tripod (for stability)
10cm from the glass

(b) flash
camera held at a position above, below or to the side of the glass
50cm from the glass

for (a) you are using the lighting installed in the aquarium to ensure the subject is well lit, won't hurt to go overboard and bring in more lighting just for the photos if you are still unable to get a good close up picture. You need to be close, contrary to what we see with our eyes, a camera's ability to recieve light penetration through water is limited. Macro is good for up to 50cm distance from the subject (in the extreme), try to be around 30cm.

for (b) you are relying on the camera to add extra light, however you need to hold the camera so the lens is out of the angle of light bounce back, it is not good enough to just have the camera angled so you think the flash won't bounceback to the lens, the flash is too bright and will ruin the colour of the photo, as an example look at the picture I took of the hermit crab, the camera was angled 45 degrees up but not below the level of the glass and the flaring still shows.

Don't know as much as I'd like to about fish just yet, but love cameras.... at least when I'm on this side of them. :)

Also, it can help to turn all the room lights off so the aquarium is the only light source.

[Marc]

Thanks Will, they sound like some great tips I'll try tonight. I find the dark room and aquarium lighting the most effective.

Thanks again!