Some photos

Thanks for the comments. I have a thread going in the SPS section as my tank is SPS dominant, you can find it here, it has lots of info on the system:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2175051

In this thread I simply wanted to share some of my favourite photos for discussion related to photography. That said, here is a FTS from January. Not the greatest shot, but gives you an idea. I have a 120 with 40 breeder sump, 4 x 54w T5s, and 2 strips of 24 RB Crees. Various fish, and mostly SPS. Pretty simple really, return pump, skimmer, and biopellets + reactor with carbon/rowaphos.

8406193019_b903593f56_c.jpg
 
I have to say... you have posted a lot of STUNNING photos here!! Thank you for sharing them! Your corals & tank are beautiful.

Might you (or anyone) have any tips for photographing corals under a blue LED light fixture? I've been trying for awhile and haven't been able to get any good photographs out of it. They are all super crazy color (washed out blue & gross), to the point of being unusable or un-fixable (raw/nef + PhotoShop).

I've tried every color balance setting on my camera (D200), including custom white balance off of a white bucket lid submerged into the aquarium. None work well.

I've been hunting on Google for some info, but haven't come across anything worthwhile.

Ideally, I'd like to capture something pretty close to how the corals appear under the blue LEDs... vibrant glowing colors.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
I took a picture of my friends mystery wrasse staring at me just like that. Lol. I post yours and then mine I think you'll get a kick out of the resemblance as to how nosy this fish is lol

67E2A562-2DDC-4BC4-A2A5-15F4AE5C25C9-5333-000003421F516B23_zps107eaac0.jpg


725B831E-1ECC-485B-AAF9-7FDDB011528F-493-000000481448F5FE_zps04b97fc0.jpg
 
Thanks guys!

Reef Bass said:
Excellent polyp extension on the smooth skin (suharsonoi? carolinia?)
Click to expand...

Good eye, that is a caroliniana, right after the lights came on (doesn't look like that during the day).

Algae_Beater said:
I have to say... you have posted a lot of STUNNING photos here!! Thank you for sharing them! Your corals & tank are beautiful.

Might you (or anyone) have any tips for photographing corals under a blue LED light fixture? I've been trying for awhile and haven't been able to get any good photographs out of it. They are all super crazy color (washed out blue & gross), to the point of being unusable or un-fixable (raw/nef + PhotoShop).

I've tried every color balance setting on my camera (D200), including custom white balance off of a white bucket lid submerged into the aquarium. None work well.

I've been hunting on Google for some info, but haven't come across anything worthwhile.

Ideally, I'd like to capture something pretty close to how the corals appear under the blue LEDs... vibrant glowing colors.

Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

It is pretty difficult to capture under just blue LEDs, like crees. My advice would be to shoot under LEDs and another source, whether that is white LEDs and/or T5s or MH's. I find it is just too difficult under straight RB leds and you are going to have washed out areas. The only way to even have a chance is through Lightroom or PS or other program to correct tint/k in post. I would suggest trying the eye dropper tool in LR or PS and picking something white; that might get you in the ballpark, then you can tweak from there using sliders. Also, if you can get your WB close as possible in camera, it really helps - I use the 10k setting on my 7D.

frankyrivera said:
I took a picture of my friends mystery wrasse staring at me just like that. Lol. I post yours and then mine I think you'll get a kick out of the resemblance as to how nosy this fish is lol

67E2A562-2DDC-4BC4-A2A5-15F4AE5C25C9-5333-000003421F516B23_zps107eaac0.jpg


725B831E-1ECC-485B-AAF9-7FDDB011528F-493-000000481448F5FE_zps04b97fc0.jpg
Click to expand...

Ha ha, that is indeed a very similar pose! I like how they seem to be able to "turn" their eye forward to look straight at you.
 
jroovers said:
It is pretty difficult to capture under just blue LEDs, like crees. My advice would be to shoot under LEDs and another source, whether that is white LEDs and/or T5s or MH's. I find it is just too difficult under straight RB leds and you are going to have washed out areas. The only way to even have a chance is through Lightroom or PS or other program to correct tint/k in post. I would suggest trying the eye dropper tool in LR or PS and picking something white; that might get you in the ballpark, then you can tweak from there using sliders. Also, if you can get your WB close as possible in camera, it really helps - I use the 10k setting on my 7D.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for the info!! I`ll give it a try. :)
 
Some updated photos, haven't been diligent about posting them here.

Here are some shots taken of another reefer's tank, under all LED lighting. Definitely tricky to shoot under all LEDs.

11215865926_2a3b1bdb60_c.jpg


11215820614_7d863e8fa8_c.jpg


11215924083_f5eee2cc7b_c.jpg


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11215607116_f32a372082_c.jpg


11215741165_f72c196acd_c.jpg
 
Incredible shots! Are you shooting in the daylight with all your lights on? Are you using a remote flash? With the lens you are shooting with are most of your corals close to the glass? Just curious how you get them so close. I have a Nikon 5200 with a 105mm macro lens 1:2. Your background are so dark / black contrasting it incredible! What are you using for software for adjustments?
Thanks for any input!
Joe
 
bubblewood said:
Incredible shots! Are you shooting in the daylight with all your lights on? Are you using a remote flash? With the lens you are shooting with are most of your corals close to the glass? Just curious how you get them so close. I have a Nikon 5200 with a 105mm macro lens 1:2. Your background are so dark / black contrasting it incredible! What are you using for software for adjustments?
Thanks for any input!
Joe
Click to expand...

Those last three sets of shots were all taken under different lighting conditions, so I try and do what I can under all lighting situations, but it is easiest under strictly T5s or MHs in my experience, LEDs are more tricky. I don`t shoot with a flash - Aaron seems to be the master of that technique! I haven't played around with it really but Aaron is inspiring me to at least try, his results speak for themselves. I am shooting with a Canon 100 mm macro for the most part, so same lens as you basically focal length wise - my scape is in place so my corals aren`t really that close to the glass, although I do crop in post for composition. I was using LR3 up until recently, I just upgraded to LR5. I usually just crop, adjust WB if needed, add a bit of sharpening or contrast if needed, and remove any obvious snow spots with spot removal tool. As far as I can tell, LR5 seems pretty similar to LR3 although I`m sure there are features that I haven`t found yet. In terms of the black background, the back of my tank is painted black, and if you adjust your exposure up and down, you can create `blackness`or the look of it anyway with empty space (or in this case empty water lol) in behind your subject. Taking some playing around, but easily doable once you figure it out. HTH. :beer:
 
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