Actinic Tank Shooting...

revhtree · Feb 2, 2008

I love how awesome a tank looks with just actinics but I can't seem to get a good pic with just the actinics on. I am running VHO's for this and was wondering if you guys had some tips.

I keep taking pics but the blue washes out and bleeds. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

143gadgets · Feb 3, 2008

Never really tried to master this one. The best shots i've ever seen were taken by a guy on RC. His screen name is makoj if i remember correctly.

143gadgets · Feb 3, 2008

Here are a few of mine.

Some Top Downs

surfn · Feb 3, 2008

rev, are you shooting in RAW? also, i would try to manually set the white balance best you can, you can further adjust in RAW on the computer.

143gadgets · Feb 3, 2008

surfn said:
rev, are you shooting in RAW? also, i would try to manually set the white balance best you can, you can further adjust in RAW on the computer.

Shooting in raw DEFINITELY helps. the pics i posted above were shot in my pre-raw days.

BeakerBob · Feb 3, 2008

Rev,
Read the manual on how to set up your custom white balance. On my camera, I have to set the camera to custom balance, then shoot a pictures under that lighting of something white. I put a white pice of plastic in the tank for this. I have also used (in a pinch) the white sand at the bottom of the tank to set the balance. This will eliminate the blue cast, but the zing of the actics will still be on the corals.

143gadgets · Feb 3, 2008

Thanks Jeremy! I wish I could get shots like that guy on RC. His shots are awesome!!!

twon8 · Feb 3, 2008

i dont' have actinics, so i can't really help.

143gadgets · Feb 3, 2008

Can't find a link to his aquarium, but I think this is one of his actinic shots.

JuniorMC8704 · Mar 4, 2008

Just to clear up any confusion, any white balance setting done in camera, custom or otherwise is bypassed when shooting in RAW. However, the preview on the cameras LCD is a JPEG regardless of what mode you shoot in.
That is why when you shoot in RAW, and preview your shots they look one way, and then when opened up in photoshop look drastically different.

There is a very easy way to white balance RAW photos if there is something white, light brown, or grey in the photo.

In photoshop, when processing a RAW file, select the eye dropper in the upper left of the window, and click on a section of the photo that has something that is pretty close to white. DONE. automatically adjusts white balance, and tint. Sometimes it still may require a tweaking, but its usually pretty darn close.

143gadgets · Mar 4, 2008

JuniorMC8704 said:
Just to clear up any confusion, any white balance setting done in camera, custom or otherwise is bypassed when shooting in RAW. However, the preview on the cameras LCD is a JPEG regardless of what mode you shoot in.
That is why when you shoot in RAW, and preview your shots they look one way, and then when opened up in photoshop look drastically different.

There is a very easy way to white balance RAW photos if there is something white, light brown, or grey in the photo.

In photoshop, when processing a RAW file, select the eye dropper in the upper left of the window, and click on a section of the photo that has something that is pretty close to white. DONE. automatically adjusts white balance, and tint. Sometimes it still may require a tweaking, but its usually pretty darn close.

Awesome info!