TheNut

I'm new to the whole fish thing (see post "My girlfriend gave me a fish tank" under Introductions section).

I'm a keen photographer but are struggling to take decent pics of fish in my aquarium. I have a DLSR and a few lenses.

Any tips will be appreciated or if there are any existing threads please point me in that direction:
- what lens to use? Macro?
- what background to use (i don't use any wallpaper etc.)
- how to provide good lightning, this is a major issue as I'm struggling to take decent pics with the available light and don't want ISO too high because of noise issues and then one needs a fast shutter speed to take sharp photo's
- how to get focus more accurate

COBettaCouple

well, i'm not an expert photographer, but i think a macro lens could work well. For a background, you might try scrapbook paper with an aquatic theme since it's not glossy like most aquarium backing. the lighting can be tough, depends on where the tank is, what lighting is in the tank & overhead and what combination of lights is on or off. I find our best pics come when 1 overhead light is on and the tank lights are on. Focusing - you might want to go manual on, our camera seems to love focusing on the wrong layer too often.

armadillo

Hi TheNut. I take all my fish pics with a bog standard digital camera, and they don't come out too bad. If your fish are small or move much then, no idea!

I'd find it really funny to do a portrait of each of my mollies and hang them all in the corridor somewhere, framed. Still working on that little project.

Actually, can't wait to see your pix as you're pro.

capekate

.. and dont forget "patiance". Sometimes it just takes sitting with that camera waiting for the right photo to come along before you get at least one good shot. Thank goodness we dont have to buy our film anymore. That can/did get pretty expensive~

armadillo

Yeah, now with digital cameras, I can just waste 100000 pictures until I get a good one. But I get the feeling TheNut is going to lead the way and start his own photography section on the forum! (hint again!)

COBettaCouple

yea, i'd LOVE to have a new DSLR.. ::sigh:: that's our next camera.. which may never happen with our MTS & Betta Bug.

genie

Take your pictures at an angle-- the macro lense works sometimes, but the lighting sometimes messes with that. I have a fancy camera (which is much less fancy than yours ) and I have a basic run of the mill digital with little zoom and such-- it works much better.
Turn all of the lights out in the room-- do this at night and only use aquarium lights-- OR-- no lights in aquarium and just use natural light.

Gargoyle

I found that the flash sucks... Messes it all up... Also if you have an "action setting" that works very well for those quick moving fish. I have not figured out how to do any close ups at all though..

Basically I try to take the best possible picture of the glass in the front of the tank. Typically I use a piece of paper with a pic on it and stick that to the glass.. Do my focus then remove the paper a click away.. It has mixed results but I do get some very good pics that way..

Luniyn

I usually set my digital camera to 1600 ISO. I don't use the flash, but take the pic's from an angle to the glass. The macro is only good when you want to get in close to 1 fish, other then that it's too hard to get a good picture with it. I only use the tank lighting which being a florescent makes the photo's a bit blue, but I've accepted that for now. And as mentioned patience is the key. I sit in one spot for a long time to get pics and have yet to get many that I'm truly happy with. I plan on sitting and taking more pictures soon, but never seem to get around to it.

TheNut

My fish had their first photo session last night, please have a look in my user gallery. One thing I can confirm is you need patience, I only kept about 1 in 20 pics.

armadillo

Great photos of your guppies! Colours came out really nice. Oh, and I looove balloon mollies. Cute fry too.

You could copy the link to your photo album (http://www.fishlore.com/fish-pictures/index-13195.html) in your forum signature.

COBettaCouple

yea.. how do they always know exactly when to turn or move suddenly or duck behind something, etc.. ? great closeups of them. i know the fry seem especially hard to catch good shots of for me.

Fish Fry

As a Photo Buff remember when photographing though glass a 45 degree angle is best with a flash, no flash no problem unless patience is not you strong suit.

COBettaCouple

yea, i try to take at an angle or tilt if possible and use up the card.. i can always offload the pics and take more.

Gargoyle

They look very nice!