Picture Taking Tips.

[severina]

I'm trying to take good pictures of my bettas, but I'm having so many issues. The pictures were a little better after I cleaned the lense with a q-tip, and I found picture settings, with contrast for contrast, brightness, all kinds of stuff but I still can't get good pictures. I think it just really might be my phone. I've been sitting here trying to take pictures of my keyboard for practice, and no matter how far/close, no matter what the settings, you cannot make out a single letter in any of the pictures. I'm so annoyed. Its a 2.8...so it shouldn't be *that* bad. *sighs* Anyone know anything about cameras?

ETA: Scratch that...just found out its a 1.3

 

[happyannie]

I know it's small but make sure your hands are nice and steady when you take the photos even if you have to brace on something. Ight? I don't find it to easy either-with a larger camera-still learning.

 

[laceypup]

I'm trying to take good pictures of my bettas, but I'm having so many issues. The pictures were a little better after I cleaned the lense with a q-tip, and I found picture settings, with contrast for contrast, brightness, all kinds of stuff but I still can't get good pictures. I think it just really might be my phone. I've been sitting here trying to take pictures of my keyboard for practice, and no matter how far/close, no matter what the settings, you cannot make out a single letter in any of the pictures. I'm so annoyed. Its a 2.8...so it shouldn't be *that* bad. *sighs* Anyone know anything about cameras?

ETA: Scratch that...just found out its a 1.3

If you've seen my pictures you'll know that I'm a terrible photographer! Everyone else's bettas look nice & clear & my betta looks like a giant blur who is never posed right. Geez! I hope people answer you b/c I could use tips too!!

 

[_cRaCkEr_]

Waiting for the experienced photographers..... I want to learn this too.

 

[Rediahs]

I've never taken betta pics, but I have taken photos, and I'll tell you what I know.

It's very likely that a camera on a phone is NEVER going to take good pics of bettas. First of all, they are almost always moving. Unless you want a big blur, you need to change the shutter speed to be quite fast so that your betta doesn't appear as a streak across the picture!

Secondly, many cameras require some sort of bright light source to focus properly. Good cameras don't do this, but nevertheless, many do, and probably some cameraphones do. So try shining a light on the betta. Your camera will likely not do very good in dark conditions.

When you shine your light, shine from behind you, or even better, with a light in front of the betta and behind the betta, but there should be no light source in your photo or the exposure might be way off.

Someone else mentioned this, but I'll also say it: try to remain steady! It is a MAJOR help to be able to brace your camera against something especially if you can't lower the shutter speed. So try sitting the camera on a desk, or at least resting your elbows on something. If your picture is blurry, one of two things are happening:

1) the camera is moving or the thing you're pointed at is moving so that the image is in a streak.
2) the camera isn't focusing

I guess there's an option #3 too: the camera just sucks

 

[OhMyDog]

Cell phone cameras aren't very good for taking pictures of fish. You need something with Macro (to focus on objects close to you) and if you can manually set the shutter speed and aperature, even better! You could probably find something decent for a little over a hundred bucks. I usually put a lamp directly over the photo container, set the camera right in front (resting on the table), manually focus the camera and set the shutter speed to about 1/4 or so (sometimes I have to go to 1/30 if the betta won't stop moving ).

 

[Pugbrat]

Pugbrat's 10 tips to betta picture taking:

1. Choose a well-lit area and transfer the fish tank on a sturdy table.

2. Be creative in choosing your background. Green leafy plants or an opaque solid royal blue backdrop works.

3. You notice there are things in the water. A water change will help.

4. After the water change, finger prints are now all-over the tank. Wipe it clean from inside and out with sponge or paper towel.

5. Take the piece of paper towel out from betta's mouth.

6. Pick betta immediately from the floor and put it back in the tank. Maybe it just jumped out to say, "I want my picture taken with paper towel in my mouth!"

7. Bring another betta in a separate tank closer to make him flare.

8. Put the one who jumped into the other tank back in his own tank.

9. Take a moment to sit and relax and watch the bettas.

10. Remember to call a professional photographer tomorrow to take pictures.

 

[severina]

Yeah..my camera just sucks. I'll have to look into buying a better one when my tax return comes in

 

[liz2]

i was really wondering about paper towel in bettas mouth

i just believe everything you guys post...

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Pugbrat's 10 tips to betta picture taking:

1. Choose a well-lit area and transfer the fish tank on a sturdy table.

2. Be creative in choosing your background. Green leafy plants or an opaque solid royal blue backdrop works.

3. You notice there are things in the water. A water change will help.

4. After the water change, finger prints are now all-over the tank. Wipe it clean from inside and out with sponge or paper towel.

5. Take the piece of paper towel out from betta's mouth.

6. Pick betta immediately from the floor and put it back in the tank. Maybe it just jumped out to say, "I want my picture taken with paper towel in my mouth!"

7. Bring another betta in a separate tank closer to make him flare.

8. Put the one who jumped into the other tank back in his own tank.

9. Take a moment to sit and relax and watch the bettas.

10. Remember to call a professional photographer tomorrow to take pictures.

They have to be the best tips I've ever read. Certainly some of the funniest.
Hugs,
P.

 

[jollysue]

Pugbrat! Too Funny!

That's just what my first time experiences are like.

I think a decent camera is a good investment in fish keeping. Also learning to take a clear pic. It's not just to show off the fish, but if he gets sick, you can also show it to someone to help. It's very much part of the hobby.

Two good tips for me were: angle the shot away from the light so the colors look darker and not washed out. (That includes moving things that might reflect in the tank glass. And take lots of shots. Focus (hopefully with a macro setting--the flower icon vs the mountain icon) on one spot and wait for the fish rather than try to follow it around. When the fish gets in your focus spot take lots of shots. (These are also more for shooting in-tank shots. I can't get a fish out of the 100 usg to take a portrait shot.) Digital cameras have a focus spot on the snap button. Aim at an object near and at the same distance from the camera as you want to snap the fish at. Press the snap shot button a little, but not until it takes the pic. It will focus on the object in the focus spot--haha, if you get what I'm trying to refer too. Try it.