Learning/rebuilding from my epic fail

[Rakie]

So is focus. For some reason, focus is often overlooked.

I think because so many people rely on Auto focus. If my LCD screen was sharper I'd use Manual Focus a lot more but 9/10 odds favor my Auto Focus.

Movement and shutter speeds are also important. We often have limited light when shooting the tank (therefor forced to use slower shutter speeds) so you want as little movement as possible. That's why I always say to turn all your pumps off. Gives sharper polyps.

That'll be the next thing I try and get to understand.

I was fooling with the idea of getting an Adapter Tube so I can use a macro diopter lens, but the general consensus there is 'meh'.

 

[reefmutt]

Yeah. The adapter tubes just give the camera more glass to look through. Usually just makes for fuzzy close ups.

 

[Rakie]

Yeah. The adapter tubes just give the camera more glass to look through. Usually just makes for fuzzy close ups.

Gotcha, thanks for the help! I had already asked Flo too many questions. Photography is a slight bit tricky.

 

[reefmutt]

Well.. been crazy busy lately but last night at around 10pm I had a choice to either go to bed or look at the tank under blue plus only bulbs.. well the choice was obvious. I took pics!
Here goes.
Just to keep in mind, these are all shot under blue plus bulbs only. ISO 1000. Pumps off all at shutter speeds around 1/40.
Colours are obviously a bit 'crazy' after being colour corrected in Snapseed. I warmed them and sharpened.
Now that it's 8:30 am and I am waiting for my daughter's hockey game to start, I'll post some shots.
Aussie:

Uncle Raja tenuis

Artsy fartsy shot of an old Raja piece

An Aussie frag of a tabler from Raja

The BRUISE!

A good hard close up of my bonsai from Fragbox. One of the most photogenic corals in the hobby, imo..

Raja's mystery

Coral farms' pink lady.

Ok. One more bunch after this..

 

[reefmutt]

Fragbox's mystery ultra fiji..

An arm of my rescue JD. Pe is juuuust starting to come back. Very happy about that.

The beast. This coral just grows over all other sps. Looks way cooler under blue bulbs only..

Another piece of 24k that is under more light. Grows much faster but the colour takes longer to develop.

This little devil is from Fragbox. Called Acrodesiac. His is my first time shooting it because it brown out completely after I added it last year. The alk swing woke it up. It has coloured back up and got it's purple polyps back.

Two Aussie frags from Raja.

Tips of a cultured colony I got from Fragbox last year..

Last one. Habanero. I also got this from Fragbox about 2 years ago. It also did very little as I moved it around a lot. It also woke up after the alk swing.

It is heading for a showdown with the beast. I may have to cut them off at the pass.. not sure I want them to meet..
Ok! Perfect timing. Game starts in 5.
Hope you enjoyed the crazy pics.

 

[kainic]

This little devil is from Fragbox. Called Acrodesiac. His is my first time shooting it because it brown out completely after I added it last year. The alk swing woke it up. It has coloured back up and got it's purple polyps back.

This Is Insane. Period.
Can we have a picture of it with full lights on?
Not that other corals are not amazing but this, oh this.

You are touched Matt, you have been blessed by reef gods.

Congratulations for your recovery.

 

[FloformAustria]

Man I Love every picture you are posting

Good to see all getting better and better!!

Can't wait for the next photos

 

[mhucasey]

Wow, just wow. I have catching up to do Matt! Gorgeous pieces all around:inlove:

 

[reefmutt]

This Is Insane. Period.
Can we have a picture of it with full lights on?
Not that other corals are not amazing but this, oh this.

You are touched Matt, you have been blessed by reef gods.

Congratulations for your recovery.

Thank you very much Sergi! Very nice. It is an amazing coral when coloured up. I will take a full light pic. Of course I will!

Man I Love every picture you are posting

Good to see all getting better and better!!

Can't wait for the next photos

Thanks, Flo!

Wow, just wow. I have catching up to do Matt! Gorgeous pieces all around:inlove:

Thanks Matt. Looking forward to your rescape.

 

[MichaelW]

stunning acros! camera skills are awesome. was this just under blue plus or led supplement 2?

some killer colors coming through. what is the normal "full" lighting again?

 

[Usernam Invalid]

Wow... need a minute to collect myself after that photo dump

 

[tripdad]

Hey Matt, photo's are great, corals looking healthier by the day. Great to see after all the problems. question for you...in post #2084, pic 7, do you know the species? I believe you have it labeled as Raja's mystery. Thanks in advance.

 

[reefmutt]

stunning acros! camera skills are awesome. was this just under blue plus or led supplement 2?

some killer colors coming through. what is the normal "full" lighting again?

Thank you, Mike. It is a very good feeling to be on the other side of a screw up. You will be back there soon enough!
I scrapped all other lights but t5. I removed my AI Primes and my 150w radiums. I now have 10xt5 plus a pair of 24 w b+ and pure actinic on each end of the tank as dim dawn dusk lighting. They are on from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm.
Here's the rest:
Hope this comes out right..

blue+ These two:10:30a-9p
Coral +
Blue + 9:30am-10:00p

Coral +
Aquapink These four are on from 11am to 7pm
Blue +
Coral +

Blue + 9:30a-10:00p
coral+
blue+ These two: 10:30a-9p

Wow... need a minute to collect myself after that photo dump

Thanks! I'm glad I could reciprocate the feelings I get when you do a photo dump!

Hey Matt, photo's are great, corals looking healthier by the day. Great to see after all the problems. question for you...in post #2084, pic 7, do you know the species? I believe you have it labeled as Raja's mystery. Thanks in advance.

Hey Scott, thanks!
Raja's mystery is just that, unfortunately. I bought a frag of it from him last year. At the time he suspected it might turn into a pink Cadillac but it is distinctly different at the moment.
Sorry coral species identification is NOT my forte..

 

[cFloor]

Top notch photo skills Matt! Your corals are really bouncing back in a good way. They look very healthy.

 

[reefmutt]

Thanks, Conor!
Yeah, I am extremely happy this simplified recovery.
I'm going to try to streamline things about more..
I have an old deep sand bed that I want to remove and use the tank to house all of my matrix and siporax. Just have a small powerhead moving water around with a relatively slow turnover of system circulation.

 

[drawman]

Wow Matt great pics! Sorry to ask again if you answered this already but what lens are you using and are you cropping much? The detail is great!

 

[Acronic]

Bastard!!!! I hate you more than I hated you before.

ISO 1000!! Your crazy, how many bulbs were runnning?. I want more pics like these! And I don't wanna hear no crap.. you obviously have a secret trap door in your tank where you keep all your treasures!

 

[reefmutt]

Wow Matt great pics! Sorry to ask again if you answered this already but what lens are you using and are you cropping much? The detail is great!

Hey Tim, thanks! I forgot to mention that those were all taken with my canon 100mm f2.8L macro lens.
Depending on the depth of the coral I am trying to shoot, I will definitely crop to fill the frame with the coral.
With macros,I always try to really get the coral right to the edges of the frame. And when the coral is a little farther away or I want to eccentuate a particular part of the image, I will crop.
Sometimes, just for aesthetics, I will crop out empty space or just to alter the dimensions of the image.
For example, the bonsai shot is cropped dramatically.

Bastard!!!! I hate you more than I hated you before.

ISO 1000!! Your crazy, how many bulbs were runnning?. I want more pics like these! And I don't wanna hear no crap.. you obviously have a secret trap door in your tank where you keep all your treasures!

Wel, Kevin, I know that that hate is really just misdirected love.
There were only 2 x 54w blue plus bulbs over the tank and the two pairs of 24w act/b+ On each side of the tank.
I'm amazed at how well cameras handle high ISOs these days.
Since the alk swing, as I have said, many corals that didn't die, have responded by waking up.
Also, I have gone a ridiculous spending/collection spree since the tank started to recover.
My latest RR Red Diablo, JF Flame and Poison Ivy purchase is a good example of my sickness... but only a fraction of my insanity.
I wil out the brakes on acquisitions for a while, however as don't have any bodily fluids left to sell!!

 

[slavetonet]

I didn't have a swing of alk.
My alk was at 5.5 dKH and I bumped it up in one dose of alk straight to 8.0 dKH without issues on Friday.
I would agree if I didn't know what I am doing.

 

[MichaelW]

Matt i think you need to give some acro picture taking tutorials to us guys that try but struggle getting anything as good as the pics you take.