A lot of my photographs are taken with a single source flash (diffused) and over the top of the tank. I feel it gives a more natural appearance. In order to squeeze every bit of detail from the photo, I try and shoot with a relatively small aperture (F18 - F29) The problem with this scenario is that at this aperture you tend to loose a lot of detail in the shadow section of the photo. Sometimes it works to your advantage if you are trying to get a particular "look".
Here's an example:
The picture is properly exposed...colors are good...the actual "pose" of the fish is fair (I like fins up...more on that later). Note that the bottom of the fish is in shadow. One way you can bring in the detail is with a reflector. You can buy them in different sizes...the smaller ones (24") are relatively inexpensive. They fold up into a case that is a quarter of the actual dimension of the reflector. Most have a silver side and a gold side, so that the light that you reflect back on the subject can be either cool or warm.
Most of my tanks have limited gravel. In the larger fish tanks the stone is much larger, providing gaps of bare bottom in the tank. Take the reflector and place it immediately under the "staging area" you have created for the flash. When finished the reflector will be underneath the tank reflector side up. Now when the flash above the tank goes off the light will bounce off the reflector and provide slight illumination on the shadow side of the fish.
Here's an example:
By slightly tilting the reflector you can adjust where the flash fills...even giving the background a kicker light. I like everything about this photo with the exception of the pose. I like a "fins up" look. I spend a lot of time observing my fish...most often with a camera in my hand. One of the things I look for are how and when they will do certain things...like popping up their fins, opening their mouth, or even banging the glass. It's been my experience that different strokes for different fish.
Here's an example:
Nice photo. I had a reflector under the tank. You can see the slight illumination reflection at the back of the tank giving it a little extra something...exposure is good. I have the black to the left of the fish...the fins look great...and they're up.
In order to get her to pop up the fins I used a very simple tool...the magnetic glass cleaner.
A long time ago i realized that the fish goes absolutely bonkers when I clean the glass. So what I do is get my lights and reflectors set in place...camera set and ready. I place the magnet on the inside bottom left of the tank. then I step forward and move the magnet from left to right of the tank...step back and watch inevitably when the fish pops her fins.
The Zonatum is very easy to push into position. I often think that the amount of time I spend point at a camera at them has made them less skittish for when I take the shots.
For this shot the "sweet spot" for the light is to the immediate left of the fish. The reflector is underneath.
I use the same tool as above.
Then I just wait till the fish is coming back from right to left...throwing the outside into shadow. I have quite a few of this "shot". Using the tool I can bring him back anytime I want. Some fish respond to the magnet, some respond to a hand, others to the small laser pen lights. When I photograph Jumbo I usually sit back in the chair and wiggle my toes on the glass. It drives him absolutely crazy.
The key here is to spend time observing. If you do you will find ways to change your photographing time from luck to willing models. It's not a perfect science...but it's at least one way that you can have a bit of control.
Last shot of the Zonatum:
Here's an example:
The picture is properly exposed...colors are good...the actual "pose" of the fish is fair (I like fins up...more on that later). Note that the bottom of the fish is in shadow. One way you can bring in the detail is with a reflector. You can buy them in different sizes...the smaller ones (24") are relatively inexpensive. They fold up into a case that is a quarter of the actual dimension of the reflector. Most have a silver side and a gold side, so that the light that you reflect back on the subject can be either cool or warm.
Most of my tanks have limited gravel. In the larger fish tanks the stone is much larger, providing gaps of bare bottom in the tank. Take the reflector and place it immediately under the "staging area" you have created for the flash. When finished the reflector will be underneath the tank reflector side up. Now when the flash above the tank goes off the light will bounce off the reflector and provide slight illumination on the shadow side of the fish.
Here's an example:
By slightly tilting the reflector you can adjust where the flash fills...even giving the background a kicker light. I like everything about this photo with the exception of the pose. I like a "fins up" look. I spend a lot of time observing my fish...most often with a camera in my hand. One of the things I look for are how and when they will do certain things...like popping up their fins, opening their mouth, or even banging the glass. It's been my experience that different strokes for different fish.
Here's an example:
Nice photo. I had a reflector under the tank. You can see the slight illumination reflection at the back of the tank giving it a little extra something...exposure is good. I have the black to the left of the fish...the fins look great...and they're up.
In order to get her to pop up the fins I used a very simple tool...the magnetic glass cleaner.
A long time ago i realized that the fish goes absolutely bonkers when I clean the glass. So what I do is get my lights and reflectors set in place...camera set and ready. I place the magnet on the inside bottom left of the tank. then I step forward and move the magnet from left to right of the tank...step back and watch inevitably when the fish pops her fins.
The Zonatum is very easy to push into position. I often think that the amount of time I spend point at a camera at them has made them less skittish for when I take the shots.
For this shot the "sweet spot" for the light is to the immediate left of the fish. The reflector is underneath.
I use the same tool as above.
Then I just wait till the fish is coming back from right to left...throwing the outside into shadow. I have quite a few of this "shot". Using the tool I can bring him back anytime I want. Some fish respond to the magnet, some respond to a hand, others to the small laser pen lights. When I photograph Jumbo I usually sit back in the chair and wiggle my toes on the glass. It drives him absolutely crazy.
The key here is to spend time observing. If you do you will find ways to change your photographing time from luck to willing models. It's not a perfect science...but it's at least one way that you can have a bit of control.
Last shot of the Zonatum:
