Best Way To Photograph Your Fish

[Tonyb111111]

Can anyone advise what is the best settings to photograph your fish. I don't have access to an SLR so have been trying to take pictures with point and click Panasonic but come out blurred as it focuses on the glass. Any ideas/advise to get a decent picture

 

[Akasha72]

in the same boat here. I have an aquarium setting in the SCN menu but trying to get a close up un-blurred is impossible. Even if I use the macro setting aswell.

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

well what kind of camera do you have? DSLR? point&shoot?


Oh I saw what you had... Let's assume a point and shoot.
Well, you have to gather all the lighting in the house and light your tank. Then put the lens of your camera on the glass, and take a picture. CLEAN THE GLASS BEFORE DOING THIS!! Because the glass is clean, the camera lens can focus on the fish inside. You just have to aim for the right moment.

Tip: Preset your focus by holding your hand about where this fish will swim in the tank. Focus on your hand (Press the shutter button down half way) and take out your hand than wait for the fish to come.

How to photograph fish - The pro mode! [DSLR]

Well, gather your expensive equipment. You are going to need a flash, a tripod and clean glass - and if you can - a macro lens.
Take of the lid of your tank, and clean the glass. Set the flash to full mode and point it down the water from above (You could need use tripod). Set your camera to the maximum shutter speed as far as it can sync with your flash. (You'll need wireless tethering to do this, or use a cord) Set your camera on the tripod, and focus on the fish, then shoot. You can use a large aperture which will blow out the background, but it will be hard to focus. (You can also use the prefocusing method above)

Well good luck to you all!! Ask questions if you didn't understand!

 

[KrazyKuhli]

Not sure on using a 'point and shoot' camera, but I find manual focus on my Dslr is so much better as it does focus on the glass at the last minute.

What cameras are you using?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I have a nikon coolpix, and I set it to "scene" and it focuses on what is moving....then i just sit and wait...

 

[Akasha72]

mine is a digital canon powershot 520. My Dad got me it for xmas and I find it a bit complicated to use. If someone has a similar camara I'd love some advice on which setting to use. Thanks

 

[KrazyKuhli]

Only thing i can think of is focus on something near the back of the tank and keep the button 'half'down to lock the focus and pull back and follow the fish your trying to shoot. Try and Aim for where the fish is going to be and not where it is.

 

[Akasha72]

trying that now tomshootsphoto ... I'll let you know how I get on

 

[Iiriva]

Yep, better put enough lights on when taking pictures. Don't use the camera's flash. You'll only get an reflection of the aquarium glass and fish with strange colors and high lighted eyes.

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

I made some picture to demonstrate, I hope it helps! :

Point and shoot:

DSLR:

 

[Tonyb111111]

I think key with point and shoot is getting enough light into the top of the tank. A picture with the in built flash looks badly coloured and drab. No flash is too dark, no flash with a high ISO setting and quick shutterspeed is too grainy. So far the best setting is the underwater one, but the colours looks quite yellow (as below signature pic). I was pondering a DLSR anyway so this has probably made my mind up. Thanks for all the advice

 

[KrazyKuhli]

You my good sir, are an Artist lol gonna trythis when my flash gun get here

 

[Akasha72]

I tried the camara up to the glass thing - it's not as blurry but still not crystal clear.

I'm trying to get a really good clear, interesting,over-all picture of the whole tank to put in my sig. I keep looking at other people's and feeling embarressed

 

[Ruskull]

well what kind of camera do you have? DSLR? point&shoot?


Oh I saw what you had... Let's assume a point and shoot.
Well, you have to gather all the lighting in the house and light your tank. Then put the lens of your camera on the glass, and take a picture. CLEAN THE GLASS BEFORE DOING THIS!! Because the glass is clean, the camera lens can focus on the fish inside. You just have to aim for the right moment.

Tip: Preset your focus by holding your hand about where this fish will swim in the tank. Focus on your hand (Press the shutter button down half way) and take out your hand than wait for the fish to come.

How to photograph fish - The pro mode! [DSLR]

Well, gather your expensive equipment. You are going to need a flash, a tripod and clean glass - and if you can - a macro lens.
Take of the lid of your tank, and clean the glass. Set the flash to full mode and point it down the water from above (You could need use tripod). Set your camera to the maximum shutter speed as far as it can sync with your flash. (You'll need wireless tethering to do this, or use a cord) Set your camera on the tripod, and focus on the fish, then shoot. You can use a large aperture which will blow out the background, but it will be hard to focus. (You can also use the prefocusing method above)

Well good luck to you all!! Ask questions if you didn't understand!

Nice job! I think I learned a few things there. I too have a non SLR camera, mine is a Nikon CoolPix with supposedly 7x wdie zoom, whatever trhat means.

Great idea for a thread also............congrats to the threadstarter.

I have a nikon coolpix, and I set it to "scene" and it focuses on what is moving....then i just sit and wait...

Thanks again! Now I need to go try that........

I have the Nikon s6100, with the touch screen.

 

[Akasha72]

agreeing, great thread