Taking FTS

[E_Aquatics]

Im struggling in the FTS department. While I can take great top down images (at least I think I do lol) I struggle when it comes to taking FTS. I see some beautiful photos online but when I try to take a FTS of my tank it looks horrible.

I have an 8ft tank which I think makes it even more difficult to get a good FTS but Im hoping I can get some tips from the pros.

I have a Nikon D300 with a Tamron 90mm macro & Sigma DC 18-250mm. I shoot RAW with a 10k WB and edit in Lightroom but the pictures just don't come out that good.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Let us see.
And tell us what you dont like.


I'd guess one or two things.
On the wider lens you'll want a higher f stop because you want a deep depth of field.

I'd also bet your struggling with the un evenness of the lighting.

Lastly the aspect ratio. I'd bet of the 8 foot is wide so it doesn't fit in the frame well.

 

[E_Aquatics]

I will take a few today since the ones I've taken in the past have gone straight to the trash lol.

what f stop do you recommend I start with? What about ISO and shutter speed?

Let us see.
And tell us what you dont like.


I'd guess one or two things.
On the wider lens you'll want a higher f stop because you want a deep depth of field.

I'd also bet your struggling with the un evenness of the lighting.

Lastly the aspect ratio. I'd bet of the 8 foot is wide so it doesn't fit in the frame well.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

start with the same iso and shutter speed you use for all your pics. then stop down to somewhere around a 5.6 or 8. youll need to decrease the shutter, or in crease the iso to compensate.

a note. decreasing the shutter may give you motion blur under 1/50th. I always test my cameras iso to figure out where it starts to get "grainy"

 

[E_Aquatics]

Ok here is what I got... took these and they look a bit better than before but still not looking to good.

No post editing other than the watermark.

ISO: 3200 - f/10 - 1/250 shutter


ISO: 1000 - f/10 - 1/50 shutter


ISO: 1600 - f/10 - 1//50 shutter

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

K. Well for one your being totally hypercritical. They look great from here.

Critiques and my .02. Second pic is the best. third is cool too, But, its because of the tank not the photographer. there are just better color highlights that create a better natural composition from the corals and placement.

your crunching the blacks overall. Its a good look, but is creating too much contrast in the rockwork and corals. it works for the stands and room but takes away from the tank. Ill note the tank looks best in the third pic as you had to limit the black level drop and retained detail in the mids along your rockwork and coral. in both second and third pic higglight level is too high.

I work primarily in Lightroom. I try to balance the primary subject first, then dodge with the brush the rest. stay avay from the blacks slider and clarity and work in the ind levels.

I think the fist photo, the true FTS, would benefit most from all of this. also dont be afraid to dodge and burn and saturate a bit in spots(lower left zoas) to great a pop and help the over all composition of the piece.
your not a sell out, Ansel Adams did it. Its a technique.

Overall though. Outstanding work.

 

[E_Aquatics]

Thank you for critique! I also like the second and third photos a lot more than the first.

I use Lightroom as well but I'm no expert so I don't do much editing. I just play with the exposure and white balance. Maybe with more practice in Lightroom and can make the photos look much better.

If I send your the raw files would you mind editing the photos so I can compare them? If you don't have time I completely understand.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thank you for critique! I also like the second and third photos a lot more than the first.

I use Lightroom as well but I'm no expert so I don't do much editing. I just play with the exposure and white balance. Maybe with more practice in Lightroom and can make the photos look much better.

If I send your the raw files would you mind editing the photos so I can compare them? If you don't have time I completely understand.

hahaha. Then what would you learn? your on the right track.

Lightroom is as addicting as reefing IMO. do what your doing then play with the levels sliders. youll see what i mean about the highlights. youll enjoy the controll there.
go back to the first pic. use the doge or burn brush(darken brighten) and drop little spots on the corals, brighten to taste with the slider, than saturate in the same brush. youll be hooked.

and no I wont scrape your algae either.

 

[dbl]

Salty, I was going to warn you Eric was selling himself a little short. I've seen his tank (albeit when it was very new) and his photography, and both are beautiful.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Thank you for critique! I also like the second and third photos a lot more than the first.

I use Lightroom as well but I'm no expert so I don't do much editing. I just play with the exposure and white balance. Maybe with more practice in Lightroom and can make the photos look much better.

If I send your the raw files would you mind editing the photos so I can compare them? If you don't have time I completely understand.

Lightroom wasn't created for the professional, although it makes the process faster for professionals

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Salty, I was going to warn you Eric was selling himself a little short. I've seen his tank (albeit when it was very new) and his photography, and both are beautiful.

I could tell by his fist post. And I agree completely.

Lightroom wasn't created for the professional,

I have to disagree. 90% of what we need to do you dont need photoshop. you just need a darkroom. Oops, Lightroom.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Not to sound snooty but @E_Aquatics, what monitor are you using? When it comes to color correcting, it may be difficult to tell if you are crushing your blacks?

FYI I've been a DI Colorist for 12 years. Looking at your pics on an Eizo ColorEdge and I can't see much wrong with them other than they are a little dark. But, color is subjective anyway. Just depends on what you want?

 

[reeferfoxx]

I have to disagree. 90% of what we need to do you dont need photoshop. you just need a darkroom. Oops, Lightroom.

I'm not arguing, but what does a darkroom have to do with lightroom? Or do you mean he should be analyzing in a darkroom?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Ok... So anyway, I'm not the photographer but I do color correct for a living. I thought I could help. Sorry.

 

[E_Aquatics]

hahaha. Then what would you learn? your on the right track.

Lightroom is as addicting as reefing IMO. do what your doing then play with the levels sliders. youll see what i mean about the highlights. youll enjoy the controll there.
go back to the first pic. use the doge or burn brush(darken brighten) and drop little spots on the corals, brighten to taste with the slider, than saturate in the same brush. youll be hooked.

and no I wont scrape your algae either.

Hahaha completely understand. I will keep trying until I get better at post-processing and no I won't ask you to scrape my algae, you could scratch my glass which I have already done :mad:

 

[E_Aquatics]

Salty, I was going to warn you Eric was selling himself a little short. I've seen his tank (albeit when it was very new) and his photography, and both are beautiful.

Thank you David!!!

 

[E_Aquatics]

Not to sound snooty but @E_Aquatics, what monitor are you using? When it comes to color correcting, it may be difficult to tell if you are crushing your blacks?

FYI I've been a DI Colorist for 12 years. Looking at your pics on an Eizo ColorEdge and I can't see much wrong with them other than they are a little dark. But, color is subjective anyway. Just depends on what you want?

Im using a mid 2007 iMac - its old but still performs very well for what I use it for. In the near future I want to upgrade to the newer one.

Im looking for the image to look bright and sharp.

 

[maroun.c]

I would be happy with the results you're getting.
If you're lighting is not strong enough to shoot with a narrow aperture u can also shoot a bit wider and move the camera back to gain a bit more depth of field. This might help a bit with the blacks.

 

[SPS_]

This thread helped me out

 

[Sabellafella]

Ok here is what I got... took these and they look a bit better than before but still not looking to good.

No post editing other than the watermark.

ISO: 3200 - f/10 - 1/250 shutter


ISO: 1000 - f/10 - 1/50 shutter


ISO: 1600 - f/10 - 1//50 shutter

You have to be kidding me!! These pictures look AWESOME!