Aquarium Photography

[chuck]

Has anyone used a flash when taking close up (macro) pictures of your fish tank? I am concered about reflected light. If not, do you have any photographing tips you could give me?

 

[fishgirl]

I'm no photography expert, but I've used flash with okay results, but it all depends on the lighting.

 

[bobsingh1]

You can use delayed aperture feature, if your camera has it. Its the thing they use during night time photography of downtown skylines. If you have plenty of light in the tank, the aperture will relatively close quicker, but you will see, eg, a yellow streak of light behind your yellow tang if the tang moves during this period and you have to use a tripod to take this picture. I have done photography of this kind and belive me it comes out great.
You can also turn off your current flow in the tank for minimum movement.

 

[the dude]

What bob said sounds very good. For my pics i make sure the tank is well lighted (ie, external halogens or xenons)-you can get these at a hardware store and are also useful for constuction lights-very well lighted, i use a high shutter speed (to eliminate blurr caused by movement) and ive found that using a polarizing filter on the lens helps cut glare

 

[dennish]

Using a tripod will really help, especially if you are using a digital camera. A regular camera with high shutter speed and fast film will help if you have very active fish.
-Dennis

 

[chuck]

I have been experimenting. I will post the pictures when they are developed. I am using a Canon AE-1 with tripod.