Quote:
Originally Posted by KyWildFish
Kevin, is there a how-to on how to photograph fish. Every attempt I have made is bad (blurry)?
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I just wrote this for another guy that uses the same camera I use. (The cannon SD 800). Hopefully it will give you some idea on settings and such that I used. Obviously each cameara is different and it takes time to get things ironed out.
When focusing depending on what you are going to take the shot sometimes it is best to focus on something about the same distance away and then go to where the fish is. IE using the auto focus on the fish many times wont work right for me.
So everything is manual.
Obviously put it into macro (flower) mode.
If I am not using flash I max the ISO at 400, if I can get by with lower I do.
I tend to sit around -2/3 for exposure.
Often use the Fluorescent color mode, though if the lighting is different I use the one that fits right. (I try to make the fish look like what I see, others try to get the fish as pretty as they can make it... it is your choice, and almost all cameras will have enhancements for colors that well you know...)
My colors is off
Center Weighted Avg.
Highest quality and size.
In the Menu settings I turn off AiAF,
Off Slow Synchro
Off Red-Eye
Off AF-assist beam
off digital zoom
IS mode shoot Only
Long shutter off
If using flash always put the camera right up to the glass. Often you have to put it at a tilt, but if it is right against the glass you don't have to.
Then just practice. Be patient, take a ton of photos. Honestly out of 100 I tend to be willing to post 20 and I might only be willing to work with 1 or 2 in photoshop and put my name on it. (Of course in cases like the convention I wasn't going for any particular shots.)
Oh and learn the movements of the fish. They almost always move fast then stop, you need to get your timing to take the picture right when they stop. (With flash you can have them moving.)
That is about all the real advice I have. Oh and be careful about zooming it too far. The macro mode doesn't focus to well if you zoom more than 2 times I think, and often you can't tell if you have zoomed in too much until you go and put it on the computer.
Hope that helps some.
Kevin
