Flash options for aquarium photography

[George Farmer]

Hi all

My first post here, so be gentle, please!

I'm considering getting a 430EXII or 580EXII to improve my aquarium photography. Currently I rely on the aquarium lighting which is ok for slow moving subjects...

http://img33.picoodle.com/img/img33/3/10/26/f_florencem_156b583.jpg

Obviously I need to light the aquarium from above to avoid reflections, so I have a few options. Studio lighting exceeds my current budget so I'm thinking flash gun with off-camera cable.

I understand the OC-E3 off-camera cables are 60cm which isn't long enough for full tank shots unless I go very wide angle. Are there any 3rd party products available to extend this length?

What are the wireless options for the lower budget-minded?

Finally, do you think the 580EXII is worth the extra outlay?

Thanks in advance.

[aram535]

I have never tried this but I imagine that the water is going to reflect a lot of the light back out before it goes in so ETTL is probably not going to work. If you have to go manual, any flash with a PC sync plug is going to work.
If your trying to make a case for buying the 580EX II than yes it would work. :-) So would a crappy ebay vivitar for $80.

[sayn3ver]

there is a guy on plantedtank.net forums who did some amazing photography in the past. I cannot remember his forum name nor what size tank he had, he spoke poor English but had a wonderful post about how he shoots his various fish, ranging from larger tetras to discus, etc. I know he used an off camera lit from above light you were thinking of.

opps. alittle searching lead me to him...aquasaur is his name. do a search on plantedtank and you will be amazed at his work...but in his one thread, on this page, he talks about what he does...post #10

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/tank-journals-photo-album/29740-some-shots-my-rainbows.html

specifically, nothing you haven't mentioned already. ;)



two others from a search on plantedtank.net. go, search, learn. Most of the posters will put up exif data and technique if asked.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/tank-journals-photo-album/72995-soungurus-aquatic-photo-journal-56k-beware.html
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/photography/2344-how-take-tank-pictures-step-step.html


may want to sign up here...http://www.aquatic-photography.com/

good luck. you're tank looks beautiful. I am assuming you're injecting co2, are people still using barr's technique of over fertilizing or have the plant gurus shifted strategies? I gave up on fw since i could never manage to keep some form of algae from getting out of hand. I have taken a hiatus from aquariums the last 9 months but have been slowly collecting stuff for a bare bottom reef. good luck.

[René Damkot]

The strobist way: Click (http://strobist.blogspot.com/search?q=zebra+fish)