P3D Re: Aquarium photo

[jacob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Gabriel Jacob)]

Michael Adumdson writes,
>I have some friends who have one of the biggest apartment aquariums
>that I have ever seen---8 ft x 4 ft x 3ft.  I wanted to try some
>shots of it in stereo.  Any suggestions?

I don't have any personal suggestions but recently I came across
this interesting article that might help.

P.S. The article was send (off-list) to Michael a week ago. Since
I wanted to post the whole article to P3D intact, I asked the authors
if they would give me permission to do so. Coincidently this was
before the whole copyright issue surfaced on P3D. So here is the
article, courtesy of the authors.

P.P.S. It is slightly long, so I hope it makes it past the filters.

Gabriel


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Fish Food for Thought
Aquatic/Aquarium Photography 
Photography in open air is easy. Point and shoot. Add one of the other
basic earth elements - water - and the rules change. A lot.

Aquariums offer excellent opportunities to get up close and person with
your local (or not so local) squid, octopus and (a personal favorite for
viewing from behind protective glass) sharks. For photographers, this
represents a challenge. Between the camera and the subject is glass, often
over an inch thick, and lots of water.

Aquarium light is usually dim to simulate the natural habitat of the
animals, and to permit better viewing for the public. Light reflects off of
glass and causes reflections. As the fish dart around the tank, using a
flash will increase the amount of light, speed up the shutter speed, and
possibly enable you to take a wonderful photograph of your flash hitting
the glass. Working around all of these constraints offers a challenge for
photographers. Let's look at each one individually for solutions.

The Glass

Line up your camera and lens perpendicular to the glass. At any other angle
the glass acts as a lens and throws everything out of focus. Keep the
camera as close to the glass as possible to avoid reflections from the
flash as well as other interior lights. A rubber lens hood will allow you
to put the lens up against the glass without the danger of scratching it.
When using a zoom lens, zoom with caution. The zoom will change the length
of the lens and it can hit the glass, potentially damaging the front of the
lens. Usually this won't hurt your camera but it can give you a heck of a
black eye as the camera pushes back into your face.

A polarizer is a prime choice in filters for photographing through glass as
it helps cut reflections. It can also cost two stops of light resulting in
a slower shutter speed. In some cases, the polarizer can dim the sparkle of
light on the scales of shiny fish.

If the subject is close to the front of the lens (close to the glass) or if
the depth of field is large (stopped down to the smallest aperture, the
imperfections and scratches in the glass may show in the photographs. Keep
to a moderate aperture for best results and faster shutter speeds.

The Water and The Flash

Water absorbs lots of light. To counter the density of the water, a medium
to high powered flash is necessary, especially for large aquariums like
those at the Seattle Aquarium or some at the Monterey Aquarium in
California. 

Using a flash "extension" cord or synch-cord will allow you to take the
flash off of the camera. Placing the flash against the glass or at a 45
degree angle to the glass will help eliminate "flash-back" or strong flash
reflections in the glass. 

The Home Aquarium Enthusiast

Psychologists and psychiatrists report that having an aquarium in your home
or office will help to ease tensions, worries and will help you relax.
Imagine what photographing one will do! If you have your own aquarium or
want to set one up to photograph aquatic animals, or even lizards and
frogs, it is easy.

Inexpensive fish tanks are available from large retail stores such as
Kmart, or at local pet and fish supply stores. Sizes range from 5 gallons
to over 150 gallons with prices from $10.00 to thousands. There are many
easy to read instructional books for properly setting up a salt water or
fresh water aquarium available at pet stores. 

When photographing your own aquarium, take precautions to keep the water as
clear as possible. Make sure it has been a couple hours since the last
feeding so all the food as been consumed or settled. Any props (rocks,
wood, plants, etc.) should be rinsed and scrubbed thoroughly before
introducing them to the tank and cleaned if they are already in the tank to
make them presentable in your image. Carefully clean the glass inside and
out.

Because fish can move so quickly, your aquarium can be easily adapted for
photography. In his book, The Complete Guide to Wildlife Photography
(Amphoto), Joe McDonald recommends sliding a piece of glass in behind the
front pane of glass in the tank creating a division in the tank a couple
inches wide. Notches can be made in the top plastic aquarium frame to
accept and hold the glass pane in place. This will constrain the fish to
the very front and keep them closer to the glass for a clear shot. Rocks
and plants can be placed behind the glass for a backdrop and no one will
know there is glass between the subject and the backdrop. 

A home aquarium opens up many photographic and creative possibilities. By
using more than one flash, you not only increase the light to your subject,
you can use back lighting and side lighting to accentuate the subject. One
can even be used overhead to simulate sunlight. 

Make sure the room is as dark as possible to help eliminate reflections on
the glass and be aware of the background. Watch for wires, pipes, heaters
and pumps. And remove all shiny jewelry, rings, necklaces, earrings,
watches, as these will reflect light from the flash onto the tank glass.

Close focusing equipment is critical to capture your aquatic life in a home
aquarium. Use a macro lens, closeup diopters, extension tubes,
teleconverters or combinations of these to capture the miniature world
before you.

Be careful, as with handling all life forms, to not stress the fish. Fish
are easily harassed and stressed by changes in their environment whether
from a change in water or a change in activity. Be patient and move slowly
to insure the survival and health of your fish.

Fish and Pet Stores

Local fish and pet stores may allow you to come in during their "slack"
times, usually first thing in the morning or middle of the day, to
photograph their fish. Be cautious of other people tripping over your
equipment, especially children, and of interfering with the work of the
employees. A good negotiating tool is to provide a few prints to the store
in return for the favor.

There are a variety of aquatic animals available from tide pool creatures
like starfish, anemones and urchins to tropical fish, shrimp, coral and
seaweed, as well as aquatic insects. There is a lot of room for
experimentation and new creative approaches because not many photographers
photograph these animals. 

Have a question for Lorelle and Brent VanFossen? Email us and we'll answer
your question here on our Q&A page, coming soon. Keep up with the journals
and projects of Lorelle and Brent on their home pages at
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/vanfossen.

All rights reserved. Copyright Lorelle VanFossen. Everything on these pages
is for personal use only and are not to be used in any other way,
electronic, print or any future medium. Use of any kind prohibited without
the express written permission of Lorelle and/or Brent VanFossen at
vanfossen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


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Lorelle VanFossen
ON THE ROAD FULL TIME
On the Road: Tampa, Florida
  


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