New D5300 - Questions

[Member No. 1]

Ok so I took a leap, got myself a decent DSLR to start taking better pictures. Up until now, my iPhone has done pretty well. I also picked up a tripod. I've been reading, researching, so I kind of understand the road ahead. I will be shooting under 2-250W Phoenix 14K with 2 54W ATI Pure Actinics, so I won't have to deal to much with the issues LED's can cause. I'm looking for true to color pictures with good detail. I know at some point I will need get a true macro lens, but for now, I'll try to use what came with the camera, a 18-55mm lens.
I'm on a Mac, and I now see Aperture is no longer available, and using Photo was fine for my iPhone pics, it has limitations for editing raw files.
So my first question, what are your suggestions for editing software. Remember I'm very new to this, so I will need something that is pretty user friendly.
Once I get going, I will use this thread for the more experienced to critique and advise me on how to improve my skills. I will welcome all criticism, good or bad.

 

[Misled]

You can use the software that came with the camera. Other than that, Lightroom or Photoshop Elements can be had for a decent price. Both are available from Adobe.

 

[Breadman03]

Also, Google just made their photo software, Nik, available for free.

 

[Member No. 1]

Also, Google just made their photo software, Nik, available for free.

I saw that, thanks. Might give it a try.

You can use the software that came with the camera. Other than that, Lightroom or Photoshop Elements can be had for a decent price. Both are available from Adobe.

I downloaded Nikon's editing software. Fumbling thru it now. See how I make out.
But I might get something more mainstream so if I need help, people that use the software will be more able to answers questions.

 

[Member No. 1]

Ok, so in between other stuff, I downloaded the trial version of Lightroom. Watched a few tutorials on youtube which helped a lot. I'm still very new to this, but below are a few pictures that I took and edited. All comments, good or bad are welcome. I am still learning and have a long way to go.
I do see a need for a true macro lens. All of this pics were shot with the lens set to 55mm, camera to Aperture Priority, ISO 100 and an f8.
One problem I'm having is focus. I wear contacts for distance, use 1.25x cheaters for close up, I adjusted the diopter on the view finder so the AF brackets are sharp. This was without using the cheaters. When I took the pictures I didn't use the cheaters either. Any advice here? Will adjusting the diopter effect the picture focus since you are looking thru the view finder?

Anyway, here are some pictures for review. Thanks for any help or advice you can provide.
I tried to represent the coral as close to reality and how they look under my lighting as possible.

This was toward the back of the tank.

Again, toward the back.

 

[Member No. 1]

Some more

 

[Member No. 1]

Full Tank Shot

Full Tank Shot

Well an attempt anyway.
I played around with ISO, this was taken with these settings:
ISO 800 23mm f11 1/30sec.
What can I adjust to make this better? TIA

 

[Reef Bass]

Lovely tank. Beautiful corals. Well done.

Photowise, I suggest turning off your pumps and letting debris settle for 5 to 10 minutes before taking pictures. There will be less detritus in the pics and polyp extension will likely increase.

Use the healing brush to touch up any remaining debris streaks.

I suggest going for longer exposure times at lower ISO and longer shutterspeeds. Depth of field will be greater and photos will be cleaner / less noisy (not that these are noise infested). I try to use ISO 100 all the time for best image quality.

 

[Member No. 1]

Thanks for the accolades on the tank. I still need to learn a lot more. I can see this is a lot of trial and error. I will be getting a macro lens soon. Researching those now. Leaning toward a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G.

Thanks for the pointers and advice. This is exactly what I was looking for. I'll take all comments, good or bad.

 

[Reef Bass]

You're welcome. I hope I didn't come off as harsh. You're off to a great start and are showing a lot of potential.

"Old school" metal halides facilitate capturing glorious reef macros nicely.

Reef keeping can be a challenge, as can be producing a quality image. For me, when I feel my corals are doing well enough for a picture, and then I get what I feel is a decent picture, it gives me a serious synergy of happiness.

Oh, and abandon center composition.

 

[Member No. 1]

You're welcome. I hope I didn't come off as harsh. You're off to a great start and are showing a lot of potential.
Nope, not at all. I'm very thick skinned, and comments good or bad are what I'm looking for. Thanks, I hope to get better.

"Old school" metal halides facilitate capturing glorious reef macros nicely.
Also helps for great growth! But that's another thread! :deadhorse:

Reef keeping can be a challenge, as can be producing a quality image. For me, when I feel my corals are doing well enough for a picture, and then I get what I feel is a decent picture, it gives me a serious synergy of happiness.
Same here.

Oh, and abandon center composition.
I'm good with mechanical things, not so good with artsy stuff. I cropped those pics to be in the middle, and I understand what you mean. Will try on the next batch.

 

[fity2pounder]

Also, Google just made their photo software, Nik, available for free.

Did you end up trying this "Nik" program? Any good?

 

[JamesHolt]

Thanks for the accolades on the tank. I still need to learn a lot more. I can see this is a lot of trial and error. I will be getting a macro lens soon. Researching those now. Leaning toward a Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G.

Thanks for the pointers and advice. This is exactly what I was looking for. I'll take all comments, good or bad.

You might want to turn the lights in the room down or off, there is alot of you reflecting in the pics...
I have to turn my room lights off when i take pics, the tank height gives me a perfect reflection every time...lol
Nice FTS

 

[Member No. 1]

You might want to turn the lights in the room down or off, there is alot of you reflecting in the pics...
I have to turn my room lights off when i take pics, the tank height gives me a perfect reflection every time...lol
Nice FTS

Thanks for the advise. After I posted the pics, I could see that. The lights were off, but I must have been getting some bleed in from another room. I am also going to start using my iPad as a remote shutter release so I'm out of the pic.
Thanks for the FTS comment!

 

[Member No. 1]

Did you end up trying this "Nik" program? Any good?

No I didn't. Not yet anyway. I had downloaded Nikon's editing software, but I wanted something more mainstream that more people use, that way if I needed help, I'd stand a better chance of getting a response.
So with that in mind, I download Lightroom. You can use it as a trial for 30 days. So far I like it. Going thru their on-line tutorials now. It also comes with Photoshop. Can get a license for $9.99 a month. I probably will spring for it. Hell what's 2 less beers a month anyway!

 

[Member No. 1]

Nikkor 105mm - BIG DIFFERENCE!

Nikkor 105mm - BIG DIFFERENCE!

So I picked up a Nikkor 105mm 1:2.8G ED Macro Lens.
Huge difference from the 18-55mm it came with. Still learning. I'm having focus issues. I'm sure I will improve with time.

As always, comments good or bad are welcome.

Just picked up a nice Green Sun Coral! This completes my collection.
Now have this green, along with an orange, yellow and black.
Looking forward to see it open.

 

[proenca]

First of all - congratulations, you are improving your photo skills - it shows in this thrad.

Second - your tank is GORGEOUS !

Now for the tips :

- buy Lightroom. you bought a nice camera. you bought a very good lens - invest a bit in software. or just be a pirate ( arrrrrrr matey ) and download it

- there are other software packages for RAW edition ( I used Lightroom since it was beta, I know use Capture 1 Pro from Phase One ) but I believe that Lightroom is a fantastic integrated package solution - for editing raw files and to organize them. Capture One is ( in my opinion )superior in raw processing but it has a very steep learning curve - Lightroom has a much more simpler approach.

- use tripod

- do NOT use flash

- keep the shutter speed high

- keep ISO on the lower side - do not stick all the time to iso 100. your camera can handle at last 200/400

- forget AF : taking aquarium pictures, AF is as useful as a bag of apistasia. either you are using a pro camera ( Nikon D4 ) your AF wont cope with your fishes movement. you know why good manual macro lens still carry a hefty price tag ? AF is pretty much useless in macroshooting : just use Live View and manual focus.

- focus stack - read about it, learn ( again, turn off AF )

- get extension tubes - cheap and fantastic way to get even closer

 

[Member No. 1]

First of all - congratulations, you are improving your photo skills - it shows in this thread.

Second - your tank is GORGEOUS !
Thanks!


Now for the tips : Thank you for taking the time to write these. I'm still learning

- buy Lightroom. you bought a nice camera. you bought a very good lens - invest a bit in software. or just be a pirate ( arrrrrrr matey ) and download it

- there are other software packages for RAW edition ( I used Lightroom since it was beta, I know use Capture 1 Pro from Phase One ) but I believe that Lightroom is a fantastic integrated package solution - for editing raw files and to organize them. Capture One is ( in my opinion )superior in raw processing but it has a very steep learning curve - Lightroom has a much more simpler approach.

I'm using Lightroom trial, which includes Photoshop. Haven't even opened PS yet. It's $9.99 a month for a subscription. I have 20 days left on the trial. I will be signing up for the monthly fee. I'm going to play with PS this weekend to do some before/after pics. Also to play with making the entire background black.

- use tripod I am. I also use a wireless remote shutter releases

- do NOT use flash I'm not

- keep the shutter speed high Shall do

- keep ISO on the lower side - do not stick all the time to iso 100. your camera can handle at last 200/400 I shoot mostly with iso set at 100, but have played with 200-800 just to see the difference. FTS seem better at 400-800.

- forget AF : taking aquarium pictures, AF is as useful as a bag of apistasia. either you are using a pro camera ( Nikon D4 ) your AF wont cope with your fishes movement. you know why good manual macro lens still carry a hefty price tag ? AF is pretty much useless in macroshooting : just use Live View and manual focus. I don't use AF. I have tried Live View, but I have issues with focusing. I wear "cheater" glasses.

- focus stack - read about it, learn ( again, turn off AF ) Been reading and watching videos about this. PS will do this. Plan on trying this this weekend.

- get extension tubes - cheap and fantastic way to get even closer Looking into this.

Thanks for all the help and pointers!

 

[Member No. 1]

A few attempts at focus stacking

A few attempts at focus stacking

Well I figured I'd try my hand at focus stacking. With LR and PH it's pretty easy.
My biggest problem is actually focusing the camera. Need to practice more.

Here are my first 3 attempts at focus stacking.
I didn't bother to "clean" the pictures up, pumps were still on.
As always, advise welcome.

I think this one came out the best.

 

[lpsouth1978]

Did you end up getting a Macro lens yet? I recently got the Nikkor 105mm f2.8 Macro and LOVE it. You will not be disappointed with it. It has allowed me to get some AMAZING macro's of corals. Photo stacking macro shots can give you some PHENOMENAL results.