Aquarium Shot

Raphael Emond · 20th of January 2007 (Sat)

Hi!
I'm starting to be confortable with fish pics. But there some things I want to know.
How do you overcome the problem of low-light/wide aperture/shallow DOF in aquarium tanks. And still got natural lighting?

Here a shot I took yesterday.
What can I do to make it better?

Attic · 20th of January 2007 (Sat)

I think you've a great capture there and you only need to print and hang it. Great shot.

Mike_Canon5D · 20th of January 2007 (Sat)

Looks like a real clean glass and the shot is very clear. Nice and sharp, excellent work with ambient light.

Raphael Emond · 20th of January 2007 (Sat)

I've done quite a bit of PP to remove small air bubles stuck inside the front glass...
It's why the shot look so clean

brunester · 20th of January 2007 (Sat)

great shot,
i once borrowed my friends monopod(682?) that could turn into a tripod.
i used that in the Monterey bay aquarium and it worked ok cause there wasnt an wind/whatever to tilt it. im not sure i understand your question or that im qualified to answer but just use a tripod. since the fish move around alot its nearly impossible to get a wide DOF
-eric

Raphael Emond · 20th of January 2007 (Sat)

The question is more what you use with your flash to retain natural color.
Since some aquariums use near UV light to bring out the colors of the fishes.

Using available light is very frustrating. Toward ISO and SS.

BrandonSi · 20th of January 2007 (Sat)

Fantastic shot.. Aquariums are very difficult.

Raphael Emond · 20th of January 2007 (Sat)

Here's another shot...
Different WB

calicokat · 20th of January 2007 (Sat)

These shots look great, I have used flash to shoot aquariums. the secret is to take the flash off camera and hold it off to the side or down or up towards the fish. Experiment, you just do not want it straight on. Bouncing it into a tank can help, again, lots of experimentation

But these look good as is

Raphael Emond · 20th of January 2007 (Sat)

Thanks for the tip....

I happend to have a off-cord

CanonCam · 21st of January 2007 (Sun)

Are you all using a polarizing filter for these aquarium shots?

Broncobear · 21st of January 2007 (Sun)

these are great shots! Now I want to go out and buy an aquarium

Raphael Emond · 21st of January 2007 (Sun)

No, I don't have a polarizer for the 50 1.8

5D692 · 29th of January 2007 (Mon)

Great shots! I spent an entire day at the Shedd Acquarium in Chicago, IL recently where I took over a hundred shots using only available lighting. After all was said and done, I ended up with only about a dozen or so keepers. I wish that I had brought my monopod with me as I found that my hand is not as steady as I thought.

krazziecliff · 29th of January 2007 (Mon)

Well I'm guessing your having trouble with the purple spectrumed aquarium lights. well it depends on wut lights u keep on, turn the actenic blue tubes off, turn the purple off...if u got metal halides...i think it replicates sunlight really well so the colors look as close to natural as possible. if u want ur marine aquarium to look like u shot it at a reef, try the combo of actinics with a low powered or blue tinted metal halides. IMHO flash is totally not necessary...and if u just have to use it, then bounce it off styrofoam. n oh yeah...best time to photograph an aquarium, a day after ur recommended 30% water change...hehehe...keep em hungry (SPCA this is purely for artistic reasons) N u'll get them staring at the cam...plus since they r hungry...they tend to focus at the camera thinking somethings coming.
I'm no expert at taking photographs at all, but have had aquariums for 20 yrs now...so i guess dat helps.

20th of January 2007 (Sat)	#1
Raphael Emond Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 430 IMAGE EDITING OK	Aquarium Shot Hi! I'm starting to be confortable with fish pics. But there some things I want to know. How do you overcome the problem of low-light/wide aperture/shallow DOF in aquarium tanks. And still got natural lighting? Here a shot I took yesterday. What can I do to make it better? __________________ Canon Rebel XT, BG-E3, Sigma 12-24 EX DG HSM, 28/2.8, 50/1.8, 24-105L IS USM, Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX DG HSM 420EX, Sigma 1.4X Converter, Moded Off-Shoe Cord 2, 2x1Gb + 1x2Gb, Pelican 1550 Case, Hoya IR72, Mono-Tripod.

20th of January 2007 (Sat)	#2
Attic Cream of the Crop Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portsmouth UK Posts: 5,242	Re: Aquarium Shot I think you've a great capture there and you only need to print and hang it. Great shot. __________________ Alby Canon EoS 1D Mklll, MP-e65, MT-24EX and a desire to photograph.------- GearList http://www.flickr.com/photos/alby_oakshott/ http://www.insectphotography.co.uk

20th of January 2007 (Sat)	#3
Mike_Canon5D Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: P.R. USA Posts: 929 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Aquarium Shot Looks like a real clean glass and the shot is very clear. Nice and sharp, excellent work with ambient light. __________________ Gear Mike Carrio

20th of January 2007 (Sat)	#4
Raphael Emond Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 430 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Aquarium Shot I've done quite a bit of PP to remove small air bubles stuck inside the front glass... It's why the shot look so clean __________________ Canon Rebel XT, BG-E3, Sigma 12-24 EX DG HSM, 28/2.8, 50/1.8, 24-105L IS USM, Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX DG HSM 420EX, Sigma 1.4X Converter, Moded Off-Shoe Cord 2, 2x1Gb + 1x2Gb, Pelican 1550 Case, Hoya IR72, Mono-Tripod.

20th of January 2007 (Sat)	#5
brunester Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Santa Cruz Posts: 369 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Aquarium Shot great shot, i once borrowed my friends monopod(682?) that could turn into a tripod. i used that in the Monterey bay aquarium and it worked ok cause there wasnt an wind/whatever to tilt it. im not sure i understand your question or that im qualified to answer but just use a tripod. since the fish move around alot its nearly impossible to get a wide DOF -eric __________________ -Eric -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.- "Imagination is more important than knowledge." -Einstein

20th of January 2007 (Sat)	#6
Raphael Emond Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 430 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Aquarium Shot The question is more what you use with your flash to retain natural color. Since some aquariums use near UV light to bring out the colors of the fishes. Using available light is very frustrating. Toward ISO and SS. __________________ Canon Rebel XT, BG-E3, Sigma 12-24 EX DG HSM, 28/2.8, 50/1.8, 24-105L IS USM, Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX DG HSM 420EX, Sigma 1.4X Converter, Moded Off-Shoe Cord 2, 2x1Gb + 1x2Gb, Pelican 1550 Case, Hoya IR72, Mono-Tripod.

20th of January 2007 (Sat)	#7
BrandonSi Goldmember Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,523 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Aquarium Shot Fantastic shot.. Aquariums are very difficult. __________________ [ www · street · fb · flickr · gear] Currently For Sale

20th of January 2007 (Sat)	#8
Raphael Emond Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 430 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Aquarium Shot Here's another shot... Different WB __________________ Canon Rebel XT, BG-E3, Sigma 12-24 EX DG HSM, 28/2.8, 50/1.8, 24-105L IS USM, Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX DG HSM 420EX, Sigma 1.4X Converter, Moded Off-Shoe Cord 2, 2x1Gb + 1x2Gb, Pelican 1550 Case, Hoya IR72, Mono-Tripod.

20th of January 2007 (Sat)	#9
calicokat calicokat is BANNED Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 14,720	Re: Aquarium Shot These shots look great, I have used flash to shoot aquariums. the secret is to take the flash off camera and hold it off to the side or down or up towards the fish. Experiment, you just do not want it straight on. Bouncing it into a tank can help, again, lots of experimentation But these look good as is __________________ "You are going to fall off a cliff trying to get a better shot someday"- My hopeful and loving wife My Website My Gear Calicokat 1990-2007 RIP My Loving Kitty

20th of January 2007 (Sat)	#10
Raphael Emond Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 430 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Aquarium Shot Thanks for the tip.... I happend to have a off-cord __________________ Canon Rebel XT, BG-E3, Sigma 12-24 EX DG HSM, 28/2.8, 50/1.8, 24-105L IS USM, Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX DG HSM 420EX, Sigma 1.4X Converter, Moded Off-Shoe Cord 2, 2x1Gb + 1x2Gb, Pelican 1550 Case, Hoya IR72, Mono-Tripod.

21st of January 2007 (Sun)	#11
CanonCam Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 160 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Aquarium Shot Are you all using a polarizing filter for these aquarium shots? __________________ Canon 20D, 24-70mmL, 17-85mm IS, 70-300mm IS, 50mm 1.8, 580EX

21st of January 2007 (Sun)	#12
Broncobear Goldmember Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ottawa Ontario Canada Posts: 2,411 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Aquarium Shot these are great shots! Now I want to go out and buy an aquarium __________________ "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." "Marcel Proust Gear & Frank's Flickr

21st of January 2007 (Sun)	#13
Raphael Emond Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 430 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Aquarium Shot No, I don't have a polarizer for the 50 1.8 __________________ Canon Rebel XT, BG-E3, Sigma 12-24 EX DG HSM, 28/2.8, 50/1.8, 24-105L IS USM, Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX DG HSM 420EX, Sigma 1.4X Converter, Moded Off-Shoe Cord 2, 2x1Gb + 1x2Gb, Pelican 1550 Case, Hoya IR72, Mono-Tripod.

29th of January 2007 (Mon)	#14
5D692 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15	Re: Aquarium Shot Great shots! I spent an entire day at the Shedd Acquarium in Chicago, IL recently where I took over a hundred shots using only available lighting. After all was said and done, I ended up with only about a dozen or so keepers. I wish that I had brought my monopod with me as I found that my hand is not as steady as I thought. __________________ Canon 5D; 24-105 f/4.0L; 28-70 f/2.8L; 50 f/1.4; BG-E4; 580EX3; Off Camera Cord 2; CP-E3; Epson P-4000 Multimedia Viewer; Custom Brackets Digital Pro-M (replaces Stroboframe Pro-T )*

29th of January 2007 (Mon)	#15
krazziecliff Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dubai, Mumbai and Goa Posts: 761 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Aquarium Shot Well I'm guessing your having trouble with the purple spectrumed aquarium lights. well it depends on wut lights u keep on, turn the actenic blue tubes off, turn the purple off...if u got metal halides...i think it replicates sunlight really well so the colors look as close to natural as possible. if u want ur marine aquarium to look like u shot it at a reef, try the combo of actinics with a low powered or blue tinted metal halides. IMHO flash is totally not necessary...and if u just have to use it, then bounce it off styrofoam. n oh yeah...best time to photograph an aquarium, a day after ur recommended 30% water change...hehehe...keep em hungry (SPCA this is purely for artistic reasons) N u'll get them staring at the cam...plus since they r hungry...they tend to focus at the camera thinking somethings coming. I'm no expert at taking photographs at all, but have had aquariums for 20 yrs now...so i guess dat helps.

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