Top-Down Camera Boxes RULE! (Pic Intensive)

[CalmSeasQuest]

I've been struggling for many months trying to improve my photography skills. One of my greatest challenges was my tank (Cadlights 39GPro) has a very slight bowfront - just enough to distort virtually every photograph.

I finally picked up an acrylic top-down box (Melevs Reef) and am amazed at the difference. Pics are taken with a Nikon D40 w/Tamron 90MM F/2.8 Macro Lighting is either 150W Phoenix MH w/T-5 actinics (frag tank) or AquaIllumination LEDS (DT) set at mid-day PAR (about 10K)

I still have a lot to learn, including gaining enough depth of field so I can start shooting my Acro's - But the top-down box at least allows me to (mostly) be in focus.

 

[Recty]

Something you might try is getting the mouths in focus. Just like when shooting animals or people you want the eyes in focus, on corals like you're photographing you want to get the mouth in focus, then they all wont look like they are slightly out of focus like they do right now.

Nice pictures, dont get me wrong, but there is nothing in them to draw your eye too and they all just look like the focusing is slightly off.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

Thanks Recty, and I agree. I've been trying to focus on the closest part of the subject, then use depth of field to bring in the rest (including the mouth.)

My skills just aren't there yet

Maybe a little closer...

 

[js1218]

still i like your pic . they look 100 times better than my do. thanks for the help will by
a nikon tomorrow

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

Thanks js128, but I've learned the glass is as, if not more important than the camera.

I think I'm getting a better handle on depth of field - Here's another shot of the Fruit Loops Acan framed a bit differently. It's also under more actinics, so it "pops" a bit more..

 

[marinetankdiver]

Amazing colors - the top down box really does make a difference. Putting one on my wish list!

 

[Octoshark]

I love the colors in post #5.

 

[Octoshark]

will by
a nikon tomorrow

The lens may be even more important than the actual camera. A great lens will be great on any decent DSLR body. I'm sure you already know, but these weren't shot on a point and shoot camera that you buy at Target. These were shot with a DSLR in which you must purchase the lens separately, where as a point and shoot has a built-in lens that you dont change based on the shot you want.

 

[goldenseal]

Amazing pictures ! I would like to get your permission to paint one of them perhaps?

 

[Jacob D]

Thanks Recty, and I agree. I've been trying to focus on the closest part of the subject, then use depth of field to bring in the rest (including the mouth.)

Hmm... it doesn't look like you're getting that result. The closest parts of your subjects are for the most part OOF. Are you manually focusing? If not, give it a try. The thin DOF is only making it harder to nail the focus. I couldn't see any exif data but I'd guess you shot these at or close to f2.8... depending on how close you are here you can stop down quite a bit.

Very nice corals you have!

 

[africangrey]

You must have been shooting these handheld, I don't see how you could mount the camera on a tripod and tilted 90 degree in the water with a top down box.
My point is these are some spectecular pictures taken without anything to stabilize the vibration from your hand.

 

[CalmSeasQuest]

Next Lesson Learned...

Next Lesson Learned...

Thanks all - My biggest challenge was learning the camera and figuring out how to turn everything automatic...OFF. Once I got into manual mode (aperture priority actually I was able to increase (ever so slightly) my DOF. These are manual focus (auto focus is largely useless in macro anyway) and hand held (haven't figure out how to get a tripod up there yet.)

Here's a few more with slightly better DOF...

Mohawks

Pink Elephants

Sweet Dreams

Emeralds on Fire

DayTrippers

CandyApples

Unkn Paly

Unkn Zoa

Unkn Zoa

Mint Rainbow Acan Lord

Focusing in macro is very hard as you have so little margin for error - Add in a bit of distortion created by the look-down box (especially if angled at all) and it's a challenge. I obviously still have a lot of practicing to do.

I miss my old Film 35mm and it's split-prism focus lenses - Focusing was much easier (although it could simply be my eyes were better 20 years ago.)