How do you take pics from above without capturing the bulb's reflection?

[plancton]

Hi, how do you take pics from above without capturing the bulb's reflection?, example of the bulbs' reflection I don't want to capture:

 

[IPT]

mmm, this is a challenge isn't it? Well I am not master, but there would be two things I would try. First, I would try to just block that area of the light with some cardboard or my hand. That would eliminate the reflection but of course there would have to be sufficent light hitting the coral from the light to the sides or behind what you were blocking. Second, I would try a polarizing filter. they are designed to reduce reflections like that. I am not sure it would eliminate it though. Worth a try though.

 

[iamwrasseman]

turn off the bulbs and use a flash

 

[maroun.c]

don't think the flash would give as nice colours as the bulbs would.
Guess the best solution would be to take the lens through the water in one of those topdown boxes. Melev used to make some of those.

 

[Robb in Austin]

Top down box. You could make your own if you have worked with acrylic before.

 

[J. Montgomery]

A top down box would help. I have one, but that doesn't necessarily prevent the light from reflecting off the bottom of the top down box . . .

 

[iamwrasseman]

you would have to get at an angle from the top box so the reflection goes elsewhere .10to 20 degrees would be sufficient ,try a little experimenting and you will find that sweet spot .

 

[reefman23]

http://www.melevsreef.com/topdown.html

 

[Jeff]

Thank you for asking this question. I have had the same problem.

 

[plancton]

Topdown box huh?, they also told me that turning off the actinics help and that HQI don't get reflected so much.

 

[GatorWPB]

i slide my lights over to the side some. The corals still get plenty of light.
Then any light that is left, I block with my hand. Slightly awkward and I guess a chance to drop the camera into the water, but it works...

 

[wetWolger]

Someone mentioned it above....but I agree that a circular polarized filter will definitely help with a problem like this.

A top down box is also a good solution to getting past the top reflection

 

[plancton]

I will use a topdown box, I mean that should do the work almost like using a professional eos SLX camera.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

You mean EOS SLR? I'm not sure what SLX is getting at. Anyway the purpose of a top-down box is to protect any camera partially submerged inside it. Whether you are using the cheapest of cheap cell phone camera or a professional SLR, the idea is the same. You would just be taking a picture through glass (or plastic) that you have submerged under the surface.