Taking pictures of moving fish?????

[CichlidsRool]

i am sorry for posting this thread, i am sure you guys been asked 1000 times.So this makes it 1001 :) . I see most of you taking very nice pictures,i do have very nice digital camera comes with many options to take pictures but,it just not coming out clear...

[akskirmish]

Faster shutter speed will help with the blur...

[Yanbbrox]

Photographing fish is hard work, as above a faster shutter speed will work out better. Why not try the experts at aquatic photography.

Nice tank, i like the aquascape

[CichlidsRool]

Photographing fish is hard work, as above a faster shutter speed will work out better. Why not try the experts at aquatic photography.

Nice tank, i like the aquascape


thank you for your help but,who is " aquatic photography"? how do i find them.

[akskirmish]

thank you for your help but,who is " aquatic photography"? how do i find them.

Drop box at top right of screen-It's our sister site....

[zennzzo]

http://www.aquatic-photography.com/

[Pharaoh]

There is a lot that goes into takeing great pictures. I spent and entire afternoon attempting to start learning the process and I have a lot to learn still. Aquatic photography is a good place to start learning what to try and how to work the camera.

[Acer]

Increasing shutter speed means you'll capture fast-moving objects better, but less light will come in. This translates to a clear yet dark picture, especially when taking pics of fish.

High shutter speed and lots of light!

[Bichir4Life]

Fast shutter spead, tripod, bright lights, an amazing flash

[Danscichlids88]

I have a problem with the flash reflecting off the tank

[SuperDave]

I have a problem with the flash reflecting off the tank


I think the pictures look better with out the flash. But if you need to use the flash, try taking pics at a angle so the light reflects off to the side and not straight back. I'm just getting into this Camera stuff, so Im just a camera noob myself so take it for what it is. :)

[FavCatfish]

I just got a camera from cc that i tried today. Its the new olympus 1030 sw and it amazing. I have small catfish that never stop moving and it captured then great with the multi shot settling and it has a thru glass setting that works great.

Now for the best picture, this digital camera is WATERPROOF! I stuck it in the tank and got great pictures!

If your willing to spend around 350 dollars then you can get rid of all the tank picture problems.

[Redchamp]

Damn I just wish that I can take non blury pictures or at least ones that do not have a nasty flash in the middle of it.

What kind of camera should I get????

[chesterthehero]

Damn I just wish that I can take non blury pictures or at least ones that do not have a nasty flash in the middle of it.

What kind of camera should I get????


its not the camera as much as it is the user

reading the owners manual is a must for figuring out how to take great pics...

even a lamborghini is only as good as its driver

[micstarz]

Dam, nice tank!! Do you have trouble with the driftwood changing the water chemistry?

[Redchamp]

its not the camera as much as it is the user

reading the owners manual is a must for figuring out how to take great pics...

even a lamborghini is only as good as its driver


That is the type of answer I give my users at work.....:irked:

I know how to use the camera I get to much glare and the fish are almost always blury...

My camera is an older one that is why I asked what type should I get

[chesterthehero]

personal choice... i personaly hate olympus and fuji cameras and swear by sony

for simple point and shoot digital cameras ive never found anything better than the cybershot series.. the one i have now i got used from someone who had no idea how to use it and he swore it was a total POS and couldnot be made to take a clear picture ($250 camera i got it for $60 with everything)...
out of the few thousand pics ive taken with it if only a few have come out blurry... but i know what this camera can and can not do..

[DiverDan]

its not the camera as much as it is the user

reading the owners manual is a must for figuring out how to take great pics...

even a lamborghini is only as good as its driver

brutal but true :grinno:

[Acer]

Any outside light sources around the tank will cause glare. I recently took pics of my community tank, and ended up closing the blinds and making the room dark so that the pictures would turn up clear.

I've been tempted to put a sheet or something over the tank and taking pics inside it, but haven't felt that motivated.

Tripod, high exposure (if fish are very active and you have enough light), no light sources behind you, etc.

[Zoodiver]

Like most have said, it's the photographer more than the camera.
For good full tank shots, get lots of light inside the tank from above, and try to avoid using a flash. Also, try to remove any lightsource hitting the tank from the line you are seeing (lights from behind you).

For taking pics of moving fish up closer, work on panning with your hand to keep the fish in one spot in the frame. It will blur the background while keeping the fish clear and sharp. You'll end up with some amazing shots.

Either way: Practice practice practice!!

[sour_girl]

personal choice... i personaly hate olympus and fuji cameras and swear by sony

for simple point and shoot digital cameras ive never found anything better than the cybershot series.. the one i have now i got used from someone who had no idea how to use it and he swore it was a total POS and couldnot be made to take a clear picture ($250 camera i got it for $60 with everything)...
out of the few thousand pics ive taken with it if only a few have come out blurry... but i know what this camera can and can not do..


I am one of these people who hate Sony cameras.. never got any good pics from them.. I personally prefer Canon...

[Coryd55]

I think the pictures look better with out the flash. But if you need to use the flash, try taking pics at a angle so the light reflects off to the side and not straight back. I'm just getting into this Camera stuff, so Im just a camera noob myself so take it for what it is. :)

Don't take pictures at an angle through the glass, it distorts the photo.

Generally it takes more than 10 shots to get a good picture. As was said before, faster shutter speed. Also an off-camera flash will elp. Position the flash above the tank and it will eliminate the glare and will get better lighting.

Good luck.

[mikcamjon]

I typically shoot at a higher ISO usually between 640-1000. You have to experiment to see when your camera becomes to grainy at higher ISO. My camera goes to 12,800 but is not usable

I usually set the aperture set to f/2. The larger the aperture (smaller f number) allows more light into the camera.

If I use a flash I place the flash on a tripod pointing down into the tank and hand hold the camera.

Finally, I bought T5 lighting just for taking pictures.

Hope this helps.

[spiff]

Psh... just put a little unflavored Jello in with the next water change to slow the fish down. jk

[le patron]

well my camera has a motion shot setting so thats no problem for me. there are several pretty cheap cameras with motion shot settings, if you want to look into it

[Bryant123]

dam alot of fish...

[devder1]

I have a problem with the flash reflecting off the tank
x2

[zennzzo]

That's why you either use a remote flash above the tank or take the PaS and shoot at a 45 degree angle to the tank...the poster above that said the pix are distorted is not close enough to the glass...look at any of my pics...they are ALL from a stock point and Shoot camera...

[wow_it_esploded]

1- Turn off all lights in the room. All of them... Really.
2- Make sure you have really bright tank lights... I actually have 2 500 watt shoplights (like 10 bucks and the cost of a new halogen bulb that is white, not yellow) that I use on each end of the tank just to give that extra amount of light
3- Make the shutter speed as FAST as possible.
4- Do not use digital zoom, only optical zoom for really clear pictures
5- shoot from a tripod
6- A remote (if possible for your camera) is best because sometimes presing the shutter can shake the camera
7- give the camera time to auto-focus... do not rush pictures


There is my little bit:)

[chemicall]

Hey folks the new Canon Digital Elph's have 'aquarium' mode on them, works good. I prefer Canon cameras, they work great for me.

If your flash is reflecting on the glass too much try moving back some with the camera then zoom a small bit. I find this helps reduce the glare on the glass from the flash.

I usually take more shots than I keep by the way.

[zennzzo]

I usually take more shots than I keep by the way.ya think?:D...I bet I have a half of gig to every keeper shot!:D:D;)

[beblondie]

put a piece of masking tape over the flash it will diffuse the light-Anne

[Nic_Corleone]

I have a 450d and has been pretty good thus far.

IMO I think flash shouldnt be used.

Best thing is too get the shutter speed as fast as u can without the pics gettin too dark. Slowly bump up the ISO but trying to avoid going to high to avoid noise.

Im no expert, but im sure everyone will agree its all about experimenting with what you got. Theres no "perfect settings" as such.

[CichlidsRool]

I have a 450d and has been pretty good thus far.

IMO I think flash shouldnt be used.

Best thing is too get the shutter speed as fast as u can without the pics gettin too dark. Slowly bump up the ISO but trying to avoid going to high to avoid noise.

Im no expert, but im sure everyone will agree its all about experimenting with what you got. Theres no "perfect settings" as such.
i have Kodak dx6490 that i payed $600 for it,you would think it would do job???!! No way! 450d that you have what brand is it....

[beblondie]

1) Before you attempt taking pictures clean the glass inside and out
2.)take the pictures at night with all light sources off except the tank
3.)get as much light as you can into the tank add lighting if you can
4.)use the fastest speed your camera has
5.)NO FLASHES it washes out the fishes color.If you can't control the flash put a piece of masking tape over it to diffuse the bright flash.
6.)Press the shutter button half-way down to focus, than all the way down to take the picture. thank you vanimate for this one.
7.)Do not use digital zoom, only optical zoom for really clear pictures
8.)shoot from a tripod
9.)A remote shutter release(if possible for your camera)is best because sometimes presing the shutter can shake the camera
10.)give the camera time to auto-focus... do not rush pictures
11.)let the fish come into your view of the camera,don't chase it down
12.) Plenty of light: The more the better, no matter those are tank lights or top-down flash light. Lighting is the key toward good aquarium photography (actually, apply to all photography cases).
13.) Faster shutter speed: 1/100s and faster is safer, and 1/200s is nearly OK for turning around bichirs.
14.) Smaller aperture size (the larger number): 11 or above (the smaller aperture the larger depth of field).
15.) Top-down external flash light on tank top is good (studio flash light is even better), built-in flash light is not good.
16.) Be patient, and spend more time (you'll get reward).
I mostly use 1/200s~1/250s, F16~22 for aquarium photography (I do setup plenty of lights for the tank)

[CichlidsRool]

1) Before you attempt taking pictures clean the glass inside and out


thank you very much i will do that, do you have the same camera as i do or i all camera work the same.

[Nick0]

I would recommend the sony. I have an alpha 300 and it's a great bit of kit. Theres some good advice here but I think some of it's unnecessary. Like the tripod and remote shutter? Unless your maybe shooting a planted tank no fish (therefore minimal motion) The idea is to get as fast a shutter speed as possible to capture the fish and a tripod just gets in the way imo. I like to be able to move around when shooting my fish (moving in, out, etc). I am not saying don't use a tripod or remote just that in my exp it's not necessary to shoot active fish.

Also consider getting a small photography tank so you can photograph individual fish easily. You can pick up little tanks cheap as.

hth, Nicko. :)

[zennzzo]

Also consider getting a small photography tank so you can photograph individual fish easily. You can pick up little tanks cheap as.

hth, Nicko. :)
What would you consider to be a small photography tank for 20+" fish?
:ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL:

[PROJECT_MEMPHIS]

ahhhhh yes africans. had sum of my own for awhile now

[swede]

I have a kodak ZD8612 I got from walmart for 120!!!!!! very very happy with the camera and the pics it takes. I find that if the fish are moving, using the sports setting helps as it increases shutter speed. also, i recommend shutting of the lights in the room and just leaving the tank light on. this especially works well at night. turn off the flash too, the tank will provide enough lighting, especially if you shut off the other lights in the room. not using a flash prevents that glare off the glass as well. for close up pics when the fish are still or moving slowly, i use the flower close up setting. this allows for better quality pics at very close range. also, being physically closer to the subject you are shooting rather than zooming up to them allows for greater focus for close up shots. hope this helps.

[swede]

OH, if you do need to use the flash, try to do it so that the flash is pointed at an angle instead of square with the glass. IME this tends to reduce the glare and the chance of your reflection showing up in the pic

[Nick0]

lol yeh i guess the photo tank is good for my africans but may not suit all applications :)

[skyhigh]

You don't really need a tripod. Fast shutter speed is a must, Don't use flash it will reflect off the tank. If it comes out dark you can always photoshop it. and I always take like 30 pictures to have a variety I switch up shutter speed and aperture to try to get the best combo... Photography is just trial and error.. Just play with your camera

[RDTigger]

Shutter speed... #1 priority in action shots with aperture being the next..

If you can manually set the shutter speed.. fast as possible. Some will let you set the shutter and it will take care of the rest. Lighting works best IN the tank.. it does not penetrate a solid object such as glass.

If no shutter setting.. here is a lil trick.. My canon 530 does not, I set it to macro (close up photo) and use the auto focus on a well lit area that will give me a better speed than focusing on the glass of the tank. I generally can do no better than ~1/10 second.. Pretty weak, but it gets the job done. Test it out..

Here is an example of my handi-work with point and shoot Canon 530.. The bottom right corner came out perfect, framed it and GOT it.. Like a porthole into the deep sea!!

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/9800/img0533c.jpg

[violetgobiesarethebest]

I don't use a flash but if you do you wan't it to bounce off the roof into the top of the aquarium

[BlackShark11k]

one of the most important factors in aquatic photography is lighting. without good lighting, you will not get good pics. unfortunately, when using a flash on the camera it will often reflect off the tank of give the fish an unusual look to their scales. one technique is an overhead flash, which IMO is probably your best option

[~ocean]

nice tank, light the room with lights, then click without flash.

[CichlidsRool]

Shutter speed... #1 priority in action shots with aperture being the next..

If you can manually set the shutter speed.. fast as possible. Some will let you set the shutter and it will take care of the rest. Lighting works best IN the tank.. it does not penetrate a solid object such as glass.

If no shutter setting.. here is a lil trick.. My canon 530 does not, I set it to macro (close up photo) and use the auto focus on a well lit area that will give me a better speed than focusing on the glass of the tank. I generally can do no better than ~1/10 second.. Pretty weak, but it gets the job done. Test it out..

Here is an example of my handi-work with point and shoot Canon 530.. The bottom right corner came out perfect, framed it and GOT it.. Like a porthole into the deep sea!!

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/9800/img0533c.jpg



thanks guys i am taking in all and learned allot thanks!!! is your tank!!!???

[jdmfan007]

dont take the picture head on go from the side abit

[LowCel]

I am far from an expert but here is what I do. I use three remote flashes on top of the tank. My primary flash is a Canon 430EX II and I have a Gary Fong diffuser on it so that the light is not to intense. That flash goes above the center of my tank. I use a Cactus remote trigger for that flash. I also use two Quantaray ms-1 slave flashes, one on the top of each end of the tank. I point those down and towards the center of the tank.

I typically use an ISO of around 100 - 200, exposure time 1/250, and aperature f/5.6. I am shooting with a Canon 50D with a Canon 100mm 2.8 macro lens.

Here are a few samples.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/fish/aaIMG_0761.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/fish/aaIMG_0753.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/fish/aaIMG_0776.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/LowCel/fish/adovii_0787.jpg

[Eallclass]

Like others have said, if you need to use a flash.. you want one that is either
A.) Adjustable such that you can point it up or to the side so it bounces onto the fish.

or
B.) remote flashes that will trigger from a different location such that it wont bounce back into the camera.

basically, you want all your flash aimed to the fish.. not into a reflective surface and back at the camera =P

I find it better to cut the lights to the room you are in.. and then super beef up the tank lights to get awesome pictures.