How to photograph florescent corals?

Karen00 · Jan 17, 2022

Hello fellow saltines,

So I just got a beautiful frag of gsp that I have isolated on a rock island. I tried taking a picture of it but the fluorescence doesn't come through. It was taken under blue light. Do I have to take the pic under white or do I need a filter or calibration of my camera or maybe a different app? I guess my phone's camera isn't as good as my eyes.

I had no idea this coral is so fluorescent. I saw something glowing when the polyps started opening and thought I somehow dropped something in my tank. although I had no idea what it could've been. LOL. Then a couple hours later the whole frag was glowing. Why does such a beautiful coral have to be so invasive?

glb · Jan 17, 2022

Karen00 said:
Hello fellow saltines,

So I just got a beautiful frag of gsp that I have isolated on a rock island. I tried taking a picture of it but the fluorescence doesn't come through. It was taken under blue light. Do I have to take the pic under white or do I need a filter or calibration of my camera or maybe a different app? I guess my phone's camera isn't as good as my eyes. I had no idea this coral is so fluorescent. I saw something glowing when the polyps started opening and thought I somehow dropped something in my tank. although I had no idea what it could've been. LOL. Then a couple hours later the whole frag was glowing. Why does such a beautiful coral have to be so invasive?

Use a yellow filter over the lens (the kind in coral viewing glasses). That should give you good color.

Karen00 · Jan 17, 2022

glb said:
Use a yellow filter over the lens (the kind in coral viewing glasses). That should give you good color.

Thanks. I just bought an Orphek pack of filters from a fellow member but have no clue how to use them for specific situations like this. I've been trying to get through all the sticky posts about photographing reefs.