Quick photography lesson

Tomoko Schum · Nov 12, 2013

Hi y'all,

Rick (hassablad) is comings over to my house this Sunday to take pictures of my tank and show me how to use my camera a little better. I have not figured out how to use aperture priority setting well at all. If you'd like to join me and learn how to take better aquarium pictures, PM me so I can tell you how to get to my house. I am thinking about starting around 1:00 pm.

TrishW · Nov 13, 2013

I want to come. Please.

Tomoko Schum · Nov 13, 2013

Sure! You are always invited

I wish you can disconnect one of the evergrow fixtures and bring it over to compare against my Phoenix 14k

Rothgar · Nov 13, 2013

I might just come and visit if that is okay.

Tomoko Schum · Nov 13, 2013

Certainly! More the merrier

TrishW · Nov 13, 2013

Tomoko Schum said:
Sure! You are always invited

I wish you can disconnect one of the evergrow fixtures and bring it over to compare against my Phoenix 14k

I can do that. Well, I think I can. I will get Richard to help me this evening so we can make sure I can get it back in the canopy and plugged back in by myself.

Tomoko Schum · Nov 13, 2013

That will be great!! We can ask rick to take a picture of the lights side by side for the future reference, too.

H@rry · Nov 13, 2013

I'd love to come but there's this thing called NASCAR at Homestead for the championship! Sorry.

Tomoko Schum · Nov 16, 2013

Anyone else? You get to see an Evergrow IT-2040 side by side with a Phoenix 14k MH lamp to compare the spectrum. Beside the photo session, it'll be like a mini meet

Tphill · Nov 16, 2013

I'd love to come meet people, but I'm selling a tank today and also have a ballgame to watch. Please post pics of the side by side comparison of the lights.

carloriv · Nov 16, 2013

I cant go because I'm from Puerto Rico but if you can make a mini tutorial how to take pics to the aquarium with that fixturw the same I have, and post some pics here It will be amazing

Hassablad · Nov 16, 2013

Look what you all will be missing.

TrishW · Nov 16, 2013

Nice!

Tomoko Schum · Nov 17, 2013

T'was great seeing you guys! It was a lot of fun talking and laughing together.

Thank you, Hassablad, for photographing my tank. I can't wait to see the pictures.

And many thanks to Trish for bringing the light fixture

Now I know which light to get. When Trish adjusted the light intensity, her Evergrow IT-2040 looked very close to Phoenix 14K. It seemed actually brighter than my 250W MH bulb (Phoenix 14K.) I am going to write a letter to Santa

Tphill - Hassablad took a few pictures of the tank with Phoenix 14K and IT-2040 side by side, but I am not sure if you could tell the difference between the two from a picture. They looked very close and the difference was very subtle. IT-2040 looked brighter and had a tiny bit warmer/richer color to it. It's hard to explain, but I really liked the way corals looked underneath it.

TrishW · Nov 17, 2013

I am looking forward to the pictures as well so I hope you will share.

Thank you for having us over today. It was fun and I always feel like I learn so much, even if I don't retain it all. Your tank is beautiful Tomoko.

I bet if you played around with the intensity of the two channels a little you could get it mimic your 14K MHs more closely that I did. That being said, I think if it looked as bright as the MH you would cause coral damage because they are brighter than they appear to the eye. I am always amazed at the polyp extension that I get from just having the blue channel on at 6 to 10%.

It was super easy to get my light back over the tank. It literally took me about 60 seconds to get it mounted and maybe another 60 seconds to route the cord and get it plugged back up. Reprogramming took a little longer but it was totally worth it to see the color difference in my fixture, the one you have on your nano and your Phoenix MHs. It made me be that much happier with my purchase.

Tomoko Schum · Nov 18, 2013

Thank you for the compliment and the advice, Trish. I will share the photos by posting them in a new thread. We should start a member's tank thread.

By the way, the yellow wrasse that was missing while we were talking showed up shortly after everyone left. I never knew he was so shy...

carloriv · Nov 18, 2013

I have the same fixture what are the intensity of the channels you use? To see it like 14k? And I hope to see those pics soon!!!

Rothgar · Nov 18, 2013

Thanks again Tomoko!

Tomoko Schum · Nov 18, 2013

Thank you, Sean, for coming over and helping me with my camera issue. I think I will need a different camera that can give image files in raw. I don't know if Santa is going to be kind enough to give me both LED fixtures and a new camera, but an Easter bunny often leaves present around here... I need to investigate which camera delivers what I need inexpensively. Do you have any recommendation?

pickupman66 · Nov 18, 2013

Tomoko,

I hve a NIkon D3000. it deliveres a pretty decent image and used they are pretty inexpensive. it would be considered an entry level DSLR. We also have a Canon here at work. Its a T-3 with 18.5 megapixels.