What do you guys think of this photo?

[blackwater]

Just picking up some digatal photography. Still learning. Now experimenting with some "alternative" photography methods.

What do you think of this photo? Quite happy with this photo coz it captures the fish's colour with out much reflection on the scales, avoiding the usual wash-out/overexposed feel.

http://arofanatics.com/members/blackwater/goodstuff/image05.jpg

Flash was used. Photo taken during daytime.

Comments and feedback please.

[CDM]

Yes, this one is very close to the reality, the white eye problem is gone and the color can be clearly seen. There're still few scales reflect to show less true color in the middle part. Maybe do a bit more whatever trick than this pic would be perfect. Anyway, this is really a nice trick. Please share the tip with us. Thanks.

[blackwater]

Originally posted by CDM
Yes, this one is very close to the reality, the white eye problem is gone and the color can be clearly seen. There're still few scales reflect to show less true color in the middle part. Maybe do a bit more whatever trick than this pic would be perfect. Anyway, this is really a nice trick. Please share the tip with us. Thanks.

Let me study this a little further and I will get back to you on this.

[CDM]

Originally posted by blackwater


Let me study this a little further and I will get back to you on this.

Cann't wait to see leh....:D :D , please.....

[blackwater]

Originally posted by CDM


Cann't wait to see leh....:D :D , please.....

You probably know the trick liao la.

Just wondering if those wonderful pics in your gallery were taken mostly at night or during the day?

Seems like good day pictures are harder to take because of the reflections and images on the glass. What do you think?

[PoPoK]

blackwater...really nice taken photograph!!


CHEERS

[Skyliner]

Nicely taken n oso looks abit retro hehee:D

[blackwater]

I think what Alvin said about flash being able to show the true colors of the fish is true.

However, it is tricky because using flash produces flare, reflections and usually white eyes and produces areas that are washed-out/over-exposed. But I think that it is not impossible to work around this problem.

Posting on the benefits of flash (http://arofanatics.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12624&highlight=flash)

[CDM]

Originally posted by blackwater


You probably know the trick liao la.

Just wondering if those wonderful pics in your gallery were taken mostly at night or during the day?

Seems like good day pictures are harder to take because of the reflections and images on the glass. What do you think?

hehe, my tank is far away from the windows (for the sake of my RTG), so doesn't matter day or night. For photography, I on my 2X (4 ft white light) and 1X (2.5ft fluorecent light), hehe, it's just like sunny day in my tank.

[blackwater]

As I have said before, many photos taken are not very reflective of the fishes true colors because of the additional colour enhancement by the pinkish aquarium lights that we see so often.

Lighting plays a big part in getting good photos. Not only in getting clear photos but colours that are indicative of the fish's actual colours.

CDM's lights I believe are quite close to the sunlight, that is why the photos of his fishes are about as good as seeing the fish itself.

But in the case of photography, it is not everyday that we can take photos in the studio (aka your home) where the setup can be tweaked to your liking by repositioning the lights, dark surroundings-bright tank combination etc.

But in the case where we take photos outside, usually we have to adapt the camera's settings to the environment that the fish is in. I think we can use the flash to overcome the effects of the aquarium lights to get a photo of the fish's actual color. However, there is still the problem of over-exposure in some areas and also reflections and white eyes, just to name a few more common problems.

[blackwater]

Quite happy with this one also:

http://arofanatics.com/members/blackwater/amazonbluelightspecial/image01.jpg

Taken at night with flash. Any comments?

[Alfredo]

:) :D :) I see better colours and shape in the photo at Night why?
maybe the artificial light improve the colours don´t you think so?

[CDM]

Originally posted by blackwater
Quite happy with this one also:

http://arofanatics.com/members/blackwater/amazonbluelightspecial/image03.jpg

Taken at night with flash. Any comments?

This one is perfect, so what's the optimum parameters of your trick?

[blackwater]

BTW, these 2 photos are of different fishes. After trying to take some photos last night, I am quite convinced that taking photos during the day will show truer colors.

Ok here is the deal. As we all know, there are limits to the exposure and flash compensation for all cameras. For my camera, FujiFilm FinePix 4700zoom, it allows +/-ev, +/-flash, white balance, ISO speed adjustments only when in manual mode.

So sometimes even at the lowest possible -ev and lowest possible flash compensation, the results are still not ideal mainly because the flash is still too strong. What I do is to put some paper in front of the flash to lower down the amount of flash. Just a common camera trick. But there is always a need to try different settings to get good results. But it is not foolproof, and does not always work.

I think if the water or lights are too strongly coloured, its very difficult to get a good pic at night coz it will all still turn out to have a reddish tinge to everything. In such cases, I think its still good to have some sunlight to provide as much white light as possible, instead of solely relying on the flash at night.


It seems that there are a couple of flash modes in my camera, dont really know what the difference is, will try it soon. There is "A", "S", normal and red eye. Wonder if A = aperture priority and S = Shutter priority.

[CDM]

You really did a lots research works. But last one is perfect, it worth. I believe aro is the hardest target for photography.
A mode means fix aperture size and let camera decide the shutter speed. S mode means fix shutter speed and let camera decide the aperture size. But normally, this shutter/aperture setting are put on the main knob, not with the flash related setting??? So, let us know when you realize the real meaning.

[blackwater]

Yea, I know about the aperture priority and shutter priority stuff, that why I am scratching my head over what are those 2 funny modes in the flash function.

Thanks CDM! :)

Damn! I really wishing that I have a good digital SLR so that I can have more control over the camera. Sometimes AF is a pain in the butt coz they dont know whether to focus on the glass or fish! Stupid camera! But then again, $$$$$ problems, ie not enough of it!!! Arrrgh!!!! Then again, there is a limit to the amount to zoom it allows. So often is the case that when I wanna take a close up, the damn camera just blurs! TOO NEAR!!! Arrrgh!!!!

[Mathew23]

Though I'm new to the fish photography..
I think havin a maunal camera would be the best for it..

i think using the boucin flash tact. should be not a prob.. to cut down alot on the flash and glare on the fish tank.. wat ever it was..

GOOD PIC.. hehe hope to see more of it

[CDM]

hi mathew welcome, yes manual would be better, but that kind of camera always are of higher price, not easy to find the balance between price and performance when there're few fantacy aros to get...:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :D :D

Blackwater, I found in my Sony DSC-F707 that when in macro mode you can have as closer shot as near to 5 cm, but when under zooming mode, you can only have accurate focus when distance is larger than 20 cm (closer than 20 cm, the pics are blur).

[blackwater]

I noticed that my camera is not very good when it comes to capturing details. This is a magic's photo of the 2nd fish. I think The colour difference is quite obvious. And the amount of detail it captures is also not very ideal.

http://arofanatics.com/members/magic/redaro2/image01.jpg



This is the photo by magic of the first fish:

http://arofanatics.com/members/magic/magicred/image02.jpg

Looks like its time to change to a better camera. :D Or do you think that its the settings that is the culprit. I know I know, ultimately its the guy holding the camera that is the main culprit. :p :p

[CDM]

hehehe, blackwater, either ways are ture leh...:D
The reason is when taking macro shots, less light into CCD, and the light condition is more critical for the marco shot, also the depth of focus is shorter. So, you can blame on our lousy digital camera, or on our unsteady hands.....:D :D
Yesterday, I saw a Pro digital camera which has a 2" diameter lens (ours maybe 1"), that will provide very HAPPY light condition. But, the price is >10000SG. So, maybe another one to blame is our small wallet....:D
One construtive idea is make our hands more steady such as do some weight-lifting exercise..... hehehe:D

Btw, the first aro is like a rainbow aro, what did you do to him??

[blackwater]

Hi CDM,

Nothing, no colour enhancement or any modifications. Both pics were straight off the camera. The base colour is just so colourful. A nice fish but its a pity its details did not come out as strongly as it should.