picking up unwanted details in aquatic pics

[X_ARTEX32]

do any of you guys have problems picking up imprefections in the glass or water for you fish pics? i find that with a macro or a good sharp lens and flash that some of my shots pick up scratches and glass smears aswell debris in the water that i never notice with my natural eye. i later see it after i upload the shot for post processing. By no means do i have bad eyes close up, infact they are very good, but with the combo of the lens for fish shots and a strong flash i have problems-


example-

the fish shot itself is sharp. the image on the LCD of the SLR (2.5") across was great, and no blemishes anywhere. uploaded to the computer and the lens itself with the flash picked up all that junk on the glass, in the water, and sensor pits i never seen on the fish other than in pictures. my water in general is very clear, i water changed 50% yesterday and keep great filtration on it. Do you guys get any of this aswell. fyi i cleaned the glass with windex 2 times before i took the shots to make sure i was good (grrr), wiped down with a new paper towel both times.

 

[maddog10]

That is a good lens for you, shows the stuff you don't want shown.

If the fish is farther back from the glass, you can often focus past the scratches and imperfections in the glass. For debris and bubbles in the water, you can turn off filters and pumps and wait a few minutes before you shoot. There is almost always something floating around in my tanks.

 

[X_ARTEX32]

That is a good lens for you, shows the stuff you don't want shown.

If the fish is farther back from the glass, you can often focus past the scratches and imperfections in the glass. For debris and bubbles in the water, you can turn off filters and pumps and wait a few minutes before you shoot. There is almost always something floating around in my tanks.

good suggestion on the filters, i'll try that. it seems i can get the best images with the fish closest to the glass you can pick up the sharpness of the eyes/ scales, sheen, color etc better than from a distance, but you may have something there aswell.

good to see the exact sharpness of the 28-70. if i still had my 18-70 i'd do side by side results, "The Beast" is a quality built lens for sure.

 

[mrlimpet]

yep, i think it's a given that there's always going to be something floating in the water or on the glass thats visible with a good lens. shooting in acrylic tanks is even more of a challenge.

i follow michael's method. i turn off all filters and pumps during photo sessions and usually try to shoot the day after a water change when i've scrubbed the inside glass. sometimes the fish can appear to be backlit if they're right up against the glass unless you're using a fill flash from the side. that's because they may be 'in front' of my overhead flash which is resting on top.

cool fish and fry! it looks like you used onboard flash only for this shot.

 

[X_ARTEX32]

yep, i think it's a given that there's always going to be something floating in the water or on the glass thats visible with a good lens. shooting in acrylic tanks is even more of a challenge.

i follow michael's method. i turn off all filters and pumps during photo sessions and usually try to shoot the day after a water change when i've scrubbed the inside glass. sometimes the fish can appear to be backlit if they're right up against the glass unless you're using a fill flash from the side. that's because they may be 'in front' of my overhead flash which is resting on top.

cool fish and fry! it looks like you used onboard flash only for this shot.

yep onboard flash only.

 

[evan]

I find that whenever I use front flash it shows every little imperfection in the glass but when I use overhead flash this does not happen. I assume this is because the light from the flash reflects off the spots on the glass which are not obvious to the naked eye with tank lighting from above.

I occasionally see things floating in the water but this pretty rare and can usually be easily removed in PP.

 

[stan chung]

The difference between lit from the top and from the front is that with top-lit,
the bits on the glass are not lit full force by the flash as opposed to front lit.

I scrape the inside with a sharp blade. Minute particles of algae is magnified when doing macro.

Turning off the pump is a given. Less particles swishing around and also micro bubbles.