Taking pictures on tanks-hints?

[GoinSalt]

How does anyone get this done?

When I try to take pics of my tank, either they're blurry because of camera shake or too dark because of no flash.

When I turn the flash on, the light just bounces off the tank and either washes everything out or all I get is a big bright spot.

I've tried taking shots from different angles but no luck.

Anyone have any tips?

Nate

[Reefland]

What kind of camera are you using Nate?

[zhenya]

Knowing the camera will help us narrow it down but off hand I'd say that the best improvement I saw on my pictures(as far as focus is concerned) is when I bought tripod.You won't believe how much untill you try it for yourself

Secondly, with the flash,I always try to avoid using my built-in flash as it is mostly interferes with the color representation.If you taking pictures of fish or moving subjects then yes, flash is helpful to "freeze" the subjects.
Try tilting your camera just a tad forvard next time,this should eliminate reflection back into the lens.
Mike(Poseidon) is a profesional photographer and hopefully he'll chime in with more detaled advice.

[GoinSalt]

What kind of camera are you using Nate?

It's an Olympus digital D520 zoom.

I went to the Monterey aquarium last weekend -- and if you've never been I HIGHLY recommend it -- and used the camera there. Some of the pictures came out OK, a tad blurry.

I'm sure a tripod would definitely help. I'll try zhenya's tip and try tipping the camera forward.

Nate

[Poseidon]

The biggest thing is to try and keep the sensor plane parallel to the glass. If you shoot at an angle to the glass the water will refract the light and cause teh image to look blurry. Gene is right about the flash though it will mess up your color balance and make the pictures look alot different then it does to your eye. Try and raise the ISO setting of your camera, that will increase noise but also it gives you a faster shutter speed. That should get rid of camera shake. The noise can later be taken out of the image with "Noise Ninja" or "neat Image". Also try and shoot manual settings as well, sometimes the camera's built in light meter is fooled by the our lights spectrum. And Finally, practice practice practice.... Just delete what you don't like.

Oh yeah and don't feel bad about the Monteray shots, Acrylic is even worse to shoot through, especially if it is CURVED!!! like those tunnels we walk through, they are almost impossible to take pictures through. The best spot to take pictures are those Bubbles that actually protude into the tanks... I got my sharpest pictures through those...

[GoinSalt]

The biggest thing is to try and keep the sensor plane parallel to the glass. If you shoot at an angle to the glass the water will refract the light and cause teh image to look blurry. Gene is right about the flash though it will mess up your color balance and make the pictures look alot different then it does to your eye. Try and raise the ISO setting of your camera, that will increase noise but also it gives you a faster shutter speed. That should get rid of camera shake. The noise can later be taken out of the image with "Noise Ninja" or "neat Image". Also try and shoot manual settings as well, sometimes the camera's built in light meter is fooled by the our lights spectrum. And Finally, practice practice practice.... Just delete what you don't like.

Oh yeah and don't feel bad about the Monteray shots, Acrylic is even worse to shoot through, especially if it is CURVED!!! like those tunnels we walk through, they are almost impossible to take pictures through. The best spot to take pictures are those Bubbles that actually protude into the tanks... I got my sharpest pictures through those...

Unfortunately, my camera is basically a point-and-shoot. Not a lot of adjustments I can make on it. I tried setting the camera on a table and pushing the button, worked a little bit better.

Nate

[Poseidon]

These are a couple shots from Newport Aquarium in KY, my family took a nice trip down that way in the first part of june... You can see they are not that sharp:





Compared to this:



If I could help anymore, it would be to say that Gene is absolutely right in the fact a good tripod can make all the difference. They are easier to move then TABLES!!!

[zhenya]

If I could help anymore, it would be to say that Gene is absolutely right in the fact a good tripod can make all the difference. They are easier to move then TABLES!!!

And usually cost much less then any table that I ever bought,even the folding ones

Mike, that shot of the bird is absolutely gorgeous.Which lens did you use on that shot and specs,please...

[Poseidon]

THANKS!!!

Here is the EXIF DATA~ I love shooting Digital!!!

File Name
IMG_6237.JPG
Camera Model Name
Canon EOS 10D
Shooting Date/Time
5/12/2004 11:18:17 AM
Shooting Mode
Program AE
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/160
Av( Aperture Value )
3.2
Metering Mode
Evaluative
Exposure Compensation
0
ISO Speed
100
Lens
70.0 - 200.0 mm
Focal Length
130.0 mm
Image Size
3072x2048
Image Quality
Fine
Flash
Off
White Balance
Auto
AF Mode
AI Servo AF
Parameters
Contrast Normal
Sharpness Normal
Color saturation Normal
Color tone Normal
Color Space
sRGB
File Size
1566KB

[zhenya]

Thanks,Mike!

I wish I had this many options on my camera....that Canon sure is nice,eh?

[Reefland]

These are a couple shots from Newport Aquarium in KY, my family took a nice trip down that way in the first part of june... You can see they are not that sharp:

If I could help anymore, it would be to say that Gene is absolutely right in the fact a good tripod can make all the difference. They are easier to move then TABLES!!!

You were in KY wand didn't stop by for a visit?

I still think that shark picture is a great shot!

[Poseidon]

Yes Gene, I have had the camera almost a year now and we have taken something like 7000+ pictures! I love it!

And Scott I would have loved to stop in and see you, but we were only there for a couple days. We went to the Newport Aq, then the next day Cincinatti Zoo.. then home! I had a ball in Newport, the Zoo was kinda dissapointing though. How far from Newport are you?

[ricksreef]

these may or may not help.


http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...03/feature.htm

http://advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2002/bondy.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2003/short.htm