Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey PHSplendens and other "Phish Photographers" - I've been shooting away with a point and shoot digital for a long time, but I've just recently learned how to use a "real" camera with all manual controls. *woohoo* PH - I love the pics you posted on the thread way back in May and I appreciate your tips and settings info. How'd you get those fish so clear though? If I go with a fast shutter speed, there is never enough light. If I slow it down, I get fish blur. Do you have unusually bright tanks? Any special equipment you use? This photo-newbie would sure appreciate a tutorial. Thanks!

Oh jan I'm sorry I didn't see your question on this sooner, must really be something wrong with the find new if it didn't pop up.

The biggest thing to getting good photos is patience. I know it sounds so simple and yet it's soooooo difficult. Some of the photos I took since February of this year either took hours or days to get right, and hundreds of shots. My tanks aren't overly lighted, so I had to really slow down the shutter speed to allow enough light in so the photo didn't become underexposed. Sometimes that meant I only had a second to focus and get the shot before the fish moved off.

If your camera has a good flash give it a try, mine stinks so I couldn't rely on it. This will give you the faster shutter speed and allow enough light in so your photo doesn't turn completely black. The only problem with that is preventing the flash from bouncing off the glass and hitting the ccd, giving you a very bright spot on photo. There are a couple of things to try when using the flash to prevent it though.

1. Shoot at an angle and not straight on.
2. Shoot with the lens against the glass.
3. Use a lens hood.
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PHSplendens
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Fishkeeping Made Simple

Thanks for the reply - I'm in no rush here! I really do prefer not to use the flash - I've never been happy with the results. Without the flash, it's that darn slow shutter speed that gets me. Even when I'm focused and ready, those fast fishies just come out like a blur. That's why I have so many pics of my pleco - He sits around a lot!! *lol* I did try a roll of ASA 800 film, and that helped. I just bought a roll of 1600 just as an experiment. If any come out okay I'll post 'em. Thanks for the advice!

Oh cool, I thought your "real" camera with manual controls was also digital, but a film camera with a higher ISO/ASA will help a lot and won't give you no where near the noise a digital will with a higher ISO.
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PHSplendens
Email Me
Fishkeeping Made Simple