Just getting into "Fish" Photography

[uwbadgerfb]

I have been tinkering around with photography for a while now, but it has been photos of mostly my kids and scenary. I have never attempted to take a photo through my tank of the fish. What advice do you have to get started taking some of the awsome pics I see on this site. My current photo equipment list is:
- Manfrotto Tri-pod and Head
- Cannon Rebel S1i
- Kit Lens
- 70-200mm Cannon lens

I think I need a macro lens from what I have read but is that all? Any other equipment needed? Anyone have a recommendation for macro lens on a Cannon body?

 

[ggrillo]

There is plenty of info that will answer most of your questions on the photography forums.

 

[RRaider]

There is plenty of info that will answer most of your questions on the photography forums.

That was helpful. I thought this was a photography forum?

 

[RRaider]

I have been tinkering around with photography for a while now, but it has been photos of mostly my kids and scenary. I have never attempted to take a photo through my tank of the fish. What advice do you have to get started taking some of the awsome pics I see on this site. My current photo equipment list is:
- Manfrotto Tri-pod and Head
- Cannon Rebel S1i
- Kit Lens
- 70-200mm Cannon lens

I think I need a macro lens from what I have read but is that all? Any other equipment needed? Anyone have a recommendation for macro lens on a Cannon body?

I'm not sure you need a macro lense for shooting fish. I use my macro for coral but my kit lense (18-55mm Nikon) for my fish.

 

[uwbadgerfb]

Thank you RRaider. Do you guys do anything with your lights or pumps? Shut all pumps off or adjust lighting. I can't seem to get the great photos I have seen on this forum. Maybe I just need more patience?

 

[uxdesigner]

Do you guys do anything with your lights or pumps? Shut all pumps off or adjust lighting. I can't seem to get the great photos I have seen on this forum. Maybe I just need more patience?

I shut off my pumps when I'm shooting top down to eliminate any surface water movement. Not sure what lights you have but if you have LEDs that are dimmable. Try adjusting the color to white almost yellow with only a bit of blue. This will help your camera adjust better since the blue colors are hard to adjust.

 

[jroovers]

I have been tinkering around with photography for a while now, but it has been photos of mostly my kids and scenary. I have never attempted to take a photo through my tank of the fish. What advice do you have to get started taking some of the awsome pics I see on this site. My current photo equipment list is:
- Manfrotto Tri-pod and Head
- Cannon Rebel S1i
- Kit Lens
- 70-200mm Cannon lens

I think I need a macro lens from what I have read but is that all? Any other equipment needed? Anyone have a recommendation for macro lens on a Cannon body?

Thank you RRaider. Do you guys do anything with your lights or pumps? Shut all pumps off or adjust lighting. I can't seem to get the great photos I have seen on this forum. Maybe I just need more patience?

You should be able to take some terrific pictures with that set up. You might not be able to get super tight up close macros, but should get nice overall shots of individual coral colonies or group shots.

To get you started, I would shoot in RAW and in Manual. Set your WB to 10,000k in the body (not sure if you can do that on your body), or attempt to custom WB). Set your ISO to 400 or so and turn off your pumps. Get your subject in focus in the camera. Set your camera to a timed shutter release (I use 2 seconds). Adjust your aperature and shutter speed until your light meter is roughly centered at 0. Larger aperatures (i.e. lower Av number) is going to give you a smaller portion of the image that is in focus - it can be tricky to get good shots this way initially - maybe try starting the 9 to 11 range first (you may need to select a slow shutter speed - e.g. 1/25 to do this, and this is where the tripod will come in handy).

Use your DPP software that came with your camera to further make adjustments to the WB in post - this allows you to balance from a specific pixel in your image as the basis of your WB. You can also add contrast, saturation, and sharpening and then convert to a JPEG. Do a quick search on the net or youtube and watch a tutorial or two and it will help immensely. Then post some pics for some feedback! HTH.

 

[sspark]

You should be able to take some terrific pictures with that set up. You might not be able to get super tight up close macros, but should get nice overall shots of individual coral colonies or group shots.

To get you started, I would shoot in RAW and in Manual. Set your WB to 10,000k in the body (not sure if you can do that on your body), or attempt to custom WB). Set your ISO to 400 or so and turn off your pumps. Get your subject in focus in the camera. Set your camera to a timed shutter release (I use 2 seconds). Adjust your aperature and shutter speed until your light meter is roughly centered at 0. Larger aperatures (i.e. lower Av number) is going to give you a smaller portion of the image that is in focus - it can be tricky to get good shots this way initially - maybe try starting the 9 to 11 range first (you may need to select a slow shutter speed - e.g. 1/25 to do this, and this is where the tripod will come in handy).

Use your DPP software that came with your camera to further make adjustments to the WB in post - this allows you to balance from a specific pixel in your image as the basis of your WB. You can also add contrast, saturation, and sharpening and then convert to a JPEG. Do a quick search on the net or youtube and watch a tutorial or two and it will help immensely. Then post some pics for some feedback! HTH.

Thanks! gonna go give this a try.