Photographing Coral

[kennedpa]

Whatever it is I want some lol.

Have pics of yours? And frags?

 

[smokin'reefer]

No frags, and she is a tough one or me to get a good pic of.

This is Cherry pic.

This is the best I have been able to get.

 

[kennedpa]

Very WD looking. Nice piece!! I like the polyp color.

I love how the tenuis corals have exploded. Minus the prices.

 

[kennedpa]

Maybe I should've used OP as a comparison.

 

[Liquid360]

Okay, all I was trying to do here was shoot polyps. I seriously need to buy a tripod!! I am not as steady as I once was!

 

[Cherub]

yeah macro is a PITA without a tripod but still pretty good. Did you figure out how to do your white balance on your camera? I had a T3i and I don't know if it's changed but that one I had to use a sheet of styrofoam under the lights and use the auto adjuster a few times before getting the right balance. Once you get the sweet spot everything looks right

 

[smokin'reefer]

I would have been ecstatic to get shots like that my second go-around. Looking good liquid.

 

[Liquid360]

I would have been ecstatic to get shots like that my second go-around. Looking good liquid.

Thanks!! I appreciate that!

 

[Liquid360]

Here's my third go around... better? Eh...There's unlikely to be improvement without tripod.

 

[cnseekatz]

I used to do some pretty crazy macro stuff... these are after Facebook image processing has destroyed them

My advice for using a macro lens for tank photography:

Fit the lens hood, and hold that against the glass so you know you are absolutely parallel to the tank glass (anything other than parallel will cause distortion and massively reduce the quality of the image).

Use a fast enough shutter speed to avert any movement, or alternatively turn flow pumps off.

I prefer to manual focus, but my camera also notifies me when it's in focus with a green indicator even when on manual focus.

Try a series of f stops to see how much depth of field you want to achieve. Using your lens at f2.8 will give you a shallow depth of field, but hands you a faster shutter speed and lower ISO.

I use a Sigma 105mm lens and I use it for everything bar FTS - amazing bit of kit!

New camera body by Andy, on Flickr

Pink Hyacinthus Macro 11-1-17 by Andy, on Flickr

Ice Fire 1-4-15 by Andy, on Flickr

Blue Mille 1-4-15 by Andy, on Flickr

FFM 1-4-15 by Andy, on Flickr

Cirrhilabrus Exquisitus 5-1-17 by Andy, on Flickr

Pygoplites Diacanthus 26-2-17 by Andy, on Flickr

Paracheilinus mccoskeri by Andy, on Flickr

Seriously guys... spectacular photos. For those of us who still use our cell phones to snap pictures, can you tell us what Camera/Lens combo you're using? What do you think someone would honestly need to spend to shoot photos of this quality?

 

[brett_schn]

Seriously guys... spectacular photos. For those of us who still use our cell phones to snap pictures, can you tell us what Camera/Lens combo you're using? What do you think someone would honestly need to spend to shoot photos of this quality?

A6000 and a 50mm prime from Sony.

 

[Liquid360]

dang.. you guys are making me feel bad about my beginner attempts

 

[Liquid360]

Seriously guys... spectacular photos. For those of us who still use our cell phones to snap pictures, can you tell us what Camera/Lens combo you're using? What do you think someone would honestly need to spend to shoot photos of this quality?

I included mine in the original post. I suspect with used equipment you could get a decent camera for $200-300 plus maybe 300'ish for the lens. Cheaper should you find it used.

 

[smokin'reefer]

Seriously guys... spectacular photos. For those of us who still use our cell phones to snap pictures, can you tell us what Camera/Lens combo you're using? What do you think someone would honestly need to spend to shoot photos of this quality?

I don't think the more money you spend equals better pics. Even if you got an entry level t3i camera and a decent enough lens your there. I see a lot of people recommend and share stunning shots with a tamron 90mm macro lens. I believe they sell new in the 4 to 5 hundred range. You could get a good used one from B&H photo or Adorama for half that.
Its people like me with little skill and talent that feel they need more fancy equipment.
I used to people win photo contest all the time with a disposable camera. Probably not in the macro world though.

Edit: just my long winded opinion.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Here's my third go around... better? Eh...There's unlikely to be improvement without tripod.

If you can. Increase the shutter speed. You may have to increase the Asa to compensate.
Higher shutter speed = need more light sensitivity.
Higher f stop = need more light sensitivity.

Higher shutter speeds slow or stop movement in the frame or the guy behind the camera.

All cameras will have a maximum sensitivity ISO / ASA before the max. You'll know the max because it will begin to get grainy pictures.

If you find the max Asa and start there you can use high and play with high shutter speeds and higher f stops for more depth of field.

 

[cloudisback1997]

I think my iPhone 7 plus take awesome photos

 

[Katrina71]

I suck at photography.

 

[Liquid360]

Yeah it's a great camera. I have one also, but it's not a DSLR. Not close.

I think my iPhone 7 plus take awesome photos

 

[Pandy]

For many of my photos posted, I used my trusty old Sony A300 DSLR with my Sigma 105mm Macro lens (amazing bit of kit for the money!) but I recently upgraded my body to the Sony A68 and it's a big improvement in both ISO handling and the frame rate burst is much higher which is great for fish shots.

I've never used a tripod for my tank I don't think, always freehand with the lens hood sat on the glass to keep it steady, but that's just how I've learnt - plus the tripod I do have sucks butt.

I don't profess to know much about what I'm doing, as all I have is a basic knowledge on how the various settings work and relate to each other, but years of practicing and somehow using the right settings gets so,e good results - along with shooting in RAW and learning how to use Adobe Lightroom.

But what I do know, is that aquarium photography is bloody difficult! The distortion of glass, lack of light, moving targets, sometimes cloudy water or particulate matter suspended, colour rendition, etc are all big obstacles that rarely fall into place to give you images you can be proud of. So if you get anything half decent, give yourself a pat on the back because you've done good

DSC04210.jpg by Andy, on Flickr

DSC04200.jpg by Andy, on Flickr

 

[Joeganja]

galaxy note 5

iPhone 7 plus