Why do corals look better viewing them top down?

[Dhofman]

This may be a completely subjective question and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.....but why do corals look better when viewing them from the top of your tank vs. the side (usually the normal front viewing of your aquarium)?

To me, the colors seem much clearer and vibrant when I look down on them. While I admit my acrylic is not brand spanking new, it still seems like something is taken away when viewing through it. Or, is it that I am seeing the shadows differently one way vs. another?

Often pictures taken of frags for sale are taken looking down at the piece. Share your thoughts or preferences!

 

[donnievaz]

Could be a combination of the glass and the amount of water you're looking through.

 

[pickupman66]

it has to do with the way the cells reflect light directly back up to the surface.


IDK. sounded good though. Here is a good example.

 

[Dhofman]

Both of those pics are beautiful! However, of the two, I prefer the top one even with the bulb reflection. The definition in the coral's textures and colors pop IMO.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[oceanparadise1]

When truly looking at a coral from the side you're missing a lot. When you look straight down you see the entire coral.

Being a vendor, if i took a picture of the side of the zoa you're not going to see everything. Taking a top down picture you see the entire coral and all the colors.

 

[Dhofman]

When truly looking at a coral from the side you're missing a lot. When you look straight down you see the entire coral.

Being a vendor, if i took a picture of the side of the zoa you're not going to see everything. Taking a top down picture you see the entire coral and all the colors.

I understand what you mean. There are definite parts you would not see on a "side" view. In the case of zoas, there is not much from a vertical standpoint that a side shot would help demonstrate. Something like an acro is different. It's height adds something for me personally when viewing. Yet, color is still not what I see when looking top down.

I have an ORA Joe the coral that looks rather dull from the side colorwise. I was looking at it last night from the top and was much more impressed with it. (Sorry....no pics at this time).

 

[oceanparadise1]

Acros will look dull on the side esp when you get larger pieces bc the top is getting all the light. The sides and bottoms of the corals are shaded by the rest of it.

 

[Jack Eskay]

Well also if you think about it corals grow towards the sun which to them is basically like the same angle as you looking at the glass. If you kind of get what I mean

 

[Jack Eskay]

Like they will defiantly look more colorful and pretty when from the top because that's where they absorb the most sunlight

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

it has to do with the way the cells reflect light directly back up to the surface.


IDK. sounded good though. Here is a good example.

Those pics are beautiful!!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

One issue is that light scattering and reflection is very angle dependent relative to the light source.

More light is scattered to the side (and even more is forward scattered) than is scattered back toward the light source. So the relative amounts of surface scattering from the coral rather than absorption from pigments is angle dependent.