Fish photography...?

[secuono]

Not sure if this is the right place for this or not, if not, sorry!

I'm wondering if anyone knows how to take personal aquarium fish pictures, without flash?
Here are some of my pics, I mess with random settings, not all that fancy. I learn best by trial and error, not reading or being told what to do and the such. So it takes awhile to get a fair picture.
Fish love to swim and dance when they see me, is there anyway to have it take a picture of a moving fish but still let in light? My preset for speeding subjects always turns out darker than what my lcd screen shows me and I cannot figure out how to change it or make my own in manual. I use the manual focus all the time, much better than what my camera *thinks* I want in focus... =/
Anyway, here are the best pics of some fish I could get most recently. Yes, there is green spot algae on the glass, yes, there are water marks on the outside of the glass and yes, there may be some reflection spoiling things as well. Sorry.
So far, I'm only able to get a pic after they slow and get bored of me, but they still move around and can suddenly bolt away.

 

[PlanetStarbucks]

Tripod and a wireless remote come to mind. Hell, you probably don't need a tripod even, just a stack of books. Without a gigantic ape hanging over the tank they'll probably be much less energetic. Set it up with manual focus and exposure on an area of interest. When the fish hit that area click, click, photo! Wireless remotes are cheap. I think the wireless one for canon is like $10.

Ultimately though, I think you need a flash. You just don't have enough light to get crispy pictures. If you setup a flash you can dump enough light to stop motion blur and you'll get some nice reflections off the scales and eyes and such. Consider buying one if you have the money.

 

[tirediron]

...I'm wondering if anyone knows how to take personal aquarium fish pictures, without flash? ... I learn best by trial and error, not reading or being told what to do

Not to seem thick or anything, but.... HUH?????

Aquariums, because of the glass and water are very challenging things to photograph well. Getting good quality shots without flashes is going to be VERY difficult, and even with, it's going to be very time consuming, because the lights will probably 'spook' the fish. You need even, constant temperature light, and a polarizing filter, and as mentioned, tripod and remote release.

 

[secuono]

A flash doesn't show off a fishe's natural beauty and when you sell fish and post a picture with flash, most will ask for the non-flash so they have a real world image.
I have a tripod and I've been trying with putting up extra lights [that stay on] and then getting a pic, but those are only the shrimp pics, since they don't bolt around and I can mess with the lights w/o scaring them off instantly.

Actually, that Angelfish is w/o flash and then w/flash, w/o shows it's natural blue iridescence you will see daily. But with flash, that pretty color ends up green/brown. That's the same fish, just opposite sides of him/her.

My female Bamboo shrimp, used a little 40w twist light, opps. But better than it would of been, since she hides under her driftwood where the tank light barely misses her.

 

[tirediron]

A flash doesn't show off a fishe's natural beauty ...

It does if you do it correctly. I'm not talking about putting a flash on the camera's hot-shoe or using the built-in pop-up flash. Not something I've done for many years (and I don't think I have any digital files of aquarium shots to show), but if you want good fish shots, you'll need (depending on the size of the tank, say 25 -50 gallon) three heavily diffused speedlights, firing at probably 1/32 power; one at each end and one firing down from above. That will give you the correct amount of light, and using a polarizing filter will (a) reduce/eliminate unwanted reflections and (b) enhance the colour and saturation in the shot.

 

[emdiemci]

I Get great results using a really fast shutter speed, use low iso and open up every window I possibly can. I don't have a tripod for my S 100, so I use a stack of books instead. And last but not least I would adjust my white balance according to the lights that are on at that specific time in your aquarium.

 

[DannyLewis]

Sorry but the water doesnt look clear, and use a mag float on the glass prior to shooting it will help alot.

 

[Bmalt]

Not exactly "Fish", but here's my recipe. I was hand holding my camera with a 105mm macro. I'm not saying tripod mounted is wrong, but I would have never gotten the perfect angle had I not hand held. I mounted two flash heads directly ABOVE the aquarium, firing directly into the water, no glass to bounce off of. Though the latter photo did have ambient light, this flash configuration cast no shadows, gave great saturation and allowed me to use a small aperture with a low ISO.

 

[secuono]

Water is crystal clear, like I said before, water marks on outside, green spot algae on the inside. You cannot tell what the water looks like in close ups. I have a magfloat and it's crap for how long it takes to get the spot algae off, only kind that shows up in that tank. It's a 110 extra tall and a huge pain, I use a razor blade on my other tank, but this one is more trouble than it's worth to keep the glass white glove test clean.

 

[Redeyejedi]

set up camera on tripod and have flashes off camera 35-45 degrees to side and one shooting subject from above. black underneath tank, and behind as well. have someone/something hold an item where you want sharpest focus, focus, and shoot when your subject swims into frame. check histo/results, re-shoot till satisfied and clean up what you want in post.
not fish photography but tank, water, flash, tripod, and remote.


Citrus Splash by Aaron S Photography, on Flickr