Aquarium Pictures

[Contarama]

OK another amateur topic...and I have read a lot of stuff on the net and in magazines about the subject I am just curious to see what ZI forum users would say...

Has anyone shot fish tank pics before and if so what are your techniques and strategies and what kinds of equipment (lenses, filters, etc) have you used? Plus does anyone have any such photos they'd share?

It is because of my aquarium hobby that I have been led to photography...I have shot literally hundreds of digital photos of aquariums with only marginal results...maybe I am just hopeless I guess...lol :)

[whitecat]

I have done alot of this. I can tell you that the best two things to do is to use a lenshood and make sure your flash is off of the camera, connected by a cord. Put the camera right on the glass and hold the flash close to the glass but higher and to the right or left. I have also used a difusser even home made to soften the light. Let's see some shots!

[Contarama]

OK I'll try it tonight... :)

Never shot the fish with a mechanical film camera before...I have those M3 flashbulbs too so I am going to get some light for sure and that has been somewhat of a problem in the past because none of my aquariums ever have lights just window and room light...weird I know but I have a reason...haha

[Contarama]

Well...I have learned one really important thing...aquarium shots with close up lenses and M3 flashbulbs just up and off to the side of your head is a dangerous business!!! LOL

I took a few...100 fuji film, 1/250 and 1/500 shutter speed, f22...50mm Tessar with Proxar .5m close up lens in a flashlight lit room so I could see enough to try and focus...my boy helped by holding the Ikoblitz...he is a very intrepid young lad not afraid of a little heat and melting glass... :)

We shall see tomorrow evening if anything good comes of it but knowing my luck I'll get just a giant white flash on the front of the tank...

[Contarama]

Well...not so good...I have to keep trying...nice pic of the reflection off a piece of plate glass of an Ikoblitz 4 going off in the dark though...haha At least the bars and scales of the fish relate to the "bars and scales" of the flash fan... :)

http://www.oklahomawildbunch.com/teach/flashfish.jpg

[Brian]

The only aquarium pictures I have taken are of the big ones. I use a fast lens and 400 or 800 film. Fast glass is F1.5 and faster. I also prefer a rangefinder camera, as there is no viewfinder blackout during the exposure. You can hold the camera steadier when you have a point to concentrate on.

I'll find some shots with the Bessa R2 and Canon 50/1.2, with Kodacolor 800.

For a flash- it will have to be off camera. I suspect lots of reflections. And- too many M3's might produce fried fish...

[Contarama]

Thought I would throw this digital image up taken with the old Sony w/Zoom Zeiss Tessar zoomed out a little and opened up with flash...

It has an almost impressionistic effect to it or something like that (IMHO) due to the old glass battery glass being so rough I think... :)

http://www.oklahomawildbunch.com/teach/neonshoal.JPG

[Brian]

That's a nice effect, and a lot of people would resort to Photoshop to get it!

[Contarama]

It is extremely hard for me to get anything even remotely cool out of my aquarium photos...granted I haven't used my film set ups very much in this endeavor...but I'm afraid I will have similar marginal results at a nice price tag...I guess that is what one has to do though...

Why Photoshop as long as there is the GIMP!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIMP :)

There are 5 fish! Note the fellow in the upper left...my favorite element of this pic...that fish is just cool...

http://www.oklahomawildbunch.com/teach/neonshoalgimp.jpg

[Brian]

I've been using Photoshop since Version 3.0 came out. I did upgrade to 7.0, and stayed at that version.

[whitecat]

Here are a couple for you....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gils_photos/4667000575/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gils_photos/4667625278/

[Contarama]

Thanks cat those are pretty cool...the second one is cracking!

On another note I found some of the other pics in that small album pretty interesting...some of them appear to be spliced together! What is that all about cat?

:)

[whitecat]

Just some misc shots put there to learn how to upload.