Tips for Best Photos of My Tank????

[Misled]

Does anyone have the Nikon mini lens? My wife is going to get one for her camera and I'm going to start using it on my tank photos

You have to be more specific than mini lens. Do you mean the Nikon 1 J1 camera lenses??

 

[michael_in_nc]

Depending on how close up you're shooting, even f/3.5 may not be enough. Granted, when I'm shooting fish, I'm usually using my 100mm macro, but I seldom go wider than f/9. That's when that off-camera flash comes in very handy, because now light is no longer an issue. Top down shots can be awesome, but they're also difficult. The first thing you need is some sort of waterproof device for your lens (I made a box out of acrylic with an open top, the four sides painted black and a clear bottom). Basically, you need a way to get your lens below the surface of the water, or the reflection of the water will prevent you from taking a clear picture.

How much do you use your off camera flash? It would be nice to have, but I'm not sure I'd use it enough to justify it? Mainly, I will use for the tank shots, kids ( portrait if I get good enough, sports, activities, etc. ), & travel. I wouldn't see using it that much with anything but the tank or maybe the kids on rare occasion if I could get them to cooperate! I'm not even sure how expensive it would be?

Thanks all, this has been a great thread for me. Been making some progress anyway...

 

[Misled]

This was shot with two off camera flashes. One with a blue gel ond one with a yellow gel. The blue was behind and the yellow was under the flower.

If you start getting into shooting stills, they become a must. This was shot with the on camera flash.

You can learn to be more creative. For the cost. Good speedlights, (flashes), can be just as valuable as good glass.

 

[IPT]

Jesse that white flower image is awesome!

 

[Misled]

Thank you and hello Louis!!!! It's good to see you!!!

 

[Sharkdog22]

Ya Misled I'm not sure what kind of lens or anything shes getting or has now. Like I said she is into the hobby and I'm not quite there yet lol, but maybe one day. And when that day comes I'll probably understand what you meant on the blue and yellow flash gel thing and how you did it. I'll have to get her on here to ask you all the camera question in the future lol.

 

[NatureNerd]

Perhaps I missed it up above, but shoot RAW when doing tank shots. It is much easier to recover shadows or blown highlights. More importantly, you can play with the white balance post processing and really get it right.

 

[michael_in_nc]

I have been shooting RAW. I'm using Aperture 3 for post processing. I'm sure that's not the best option, but it's what I have to start with...

Took a few more shots tonight...


This one had so much potential but I couldn't get what I wanted. I could see the whole tank in the front glass reflection and a nice line of coral up the front glass, but I couldn't get the settings right to capture it? DOF, focus, etc. just wouldn't work well. I was using the 18-105mm kit lens. Aperture mode.

I thought the bottom of the shot looked decent but my "epoxy" is highly distracting. Need a better way to keep the corals in place. I figured it would get covered in coralline and zoo's but not yet, so it's doesn't look good now...

I thought this was one of my better ones, not completely centered nice angle on the front polyp, etc.

Couldn't really figure out the best composition on this one, but I really like these two pieces...