DBTC: Photo skeeeelz

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Guest

Guest
#1
#1
Since Im breaking the frag tank down, I have a few corals for sale. Hovever, if anyone who is particularily skilled at taking photos of their reef and corals would like to do a quick instruction session on how to work my camera, I would let them have the choice of a piece of coral from my sale thread: http://www.marinecolorado.org/forums/showthread.php?19081-breaking-down-frag-tank-SPS-LPS-zoas

I have a Canon digital Rebel with a few lenses, and for the life of me can not get good shots of my tank. I dont know if its the cameras incompatibility with actinic lighting or just a setting problem, but all my shots turn out like crap. So, If anyone who knows about SLR cameras wants to give a quick tutorial about shutter speed and aperture setting for good reef shots, they can pick a coral. From zoas to SPS, its fair game if its in the frag tank.

So to get the job, you must audition. Post any photo that you have taken with an SLR camera of your reef, and if its looks badass, you win! So start posting up, best shot by the end of the week gets it.
 
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djkms

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#4
#4
Just a hobbyist with a camera but I think I am decent with it. I have a Cannon Rebel T3i with a macro lens. I wouldn't mind trading some time for that strawberry shortcake of yours :)

Here are a few pics...









 
jahmic

jahmic

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#5
#5
Re: DBTC: Photo skeeeelz

Thanks Matt :)

Ryan, I was going to say that you'd be better off getting a member with a Canon to help you, as I shoot with a Nikon. The little nuances between the sensors and menus on the 2 cameras can make things cumbersome once you get past the basics and try to dial in settings for color rendition. There's also the advantage of swapping lenses...

I don't mean to influence your pick with that bit of info...but seeing as to how djkms has already posted up...I'm gonna default to him as a better option to get you going.
 
G

Guest

Guest
#6
#6
nice Kris, what macro are you using? Thats next on my list.

jahmic, i think you should still post some pics haha. I do agree with your Nikon translation problem though.

Ill decide this weekend, so everyone get your pics up!
 
Munch

Munch

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#10
#10
Here's a few I just took moments ago, no editing and dirty glass :). I picked it up off the POTN site, slightly used for $725... Tripod is a must, good macro lens is ideal, and external flash helps. Set your Cannon to Full Manual mode. Try ISO around 200, Shutter speed about 1/10, F10 or so, manual focus, and shut down pumps....

[attachment=64271:name]

[attachment=64272:name]
 
DyM

DyM

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#12
#12
djkms;240627 said:
Just a hobbyist with a camera but I think I am decent with it.
Click to expand...
Very humble.... but your picture taking skills are truly professional in my opinion.
 
DyM

DyM

Sting ray
M.A.S.C Club Member
#13
#13
Kahlis, yours are good too. How does everyone get the name on the pic. Is that some sort of photo shop add on? Sorry for the stupid question.
 
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djkms

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#14
#14
ryan;240653 said:
how do you like your lens Kris?
Click to expand...
I like it. Would love to have a L lens more though!

DyM;240711 said:
Very humble.... but your picture taking skills are truly professional in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Thanks Dave. When I shoot I literally take hundreds of shots and pick the best 1 or 2.

A lot of it is post processing as well, I use Lightroom for color correction and Photoshop for the border and watermark.
 
jahmic

jahmic

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#15
#15
Thanks Dave

+1 for post processing. I use lightroom for everything, and it automatically tags every picture with my name when I export the final copy after editing. I think you can get some cleaner watermarks and borders with photoshop, unless I'm just missing something...I think lightroom only allows the basics like script, color, and opacity of the watermark.

And yea...I gotta agree...I can shoot for hours and get nothing but a bunch of "throw aways". To be honest, I'd consider the picture of the wrasse and goby that I took to be sub par since they are slightly out of focus...but I thought they were interesting and liked the composition so I decided to share. It's hard to tell...but that wrasse is spitting out a couple grains of fine sand after snatching a pod off the rocks. :)
 
G

Guest

Guest
#16
#16
i need a macro lens! i just cant get the close up focus that I want. I just messed around real quick and heres a couple shots. Still not as good as i want them to be. How do you get the light/ dark contrast? I want the black background to be black, not grey and visible?






 
G

Guest

Guest
#18
#18
the first two were straight in through the front. Its hard to tell when its focused through the viewfinder.
 
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djkms

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#19
#19
If you are having a hard time manually focusing then Auto- Focus :). I auto more than manual. Also, unless you have 20/20 vision you probably need to adjust your diopter....

http://digital-photography-school.com/using-diopter-adjustment

Are you shooting with a tripod? If not that would explain why your pictures are a bit out of focus. A tripod is the most essential piece of equipment you can buy with your camera for what we shoot.

(btw that above linked website is a fantastic source of information for camera hobbyists!)
 
jahmic

jahmic

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#20
#20
And if you auto-focus...turn your camera on to a mode that uses a single-source / point focus. Then, focus on the area of the photo closest to you that you want to be sharp. Adjust your depth of field (increase the F-stop) so that the area behind that point is also brought into focus. If you use an autofocus mode that attempts to take the "average" of every point in the viewfinder, you will get a blurry photo.

In taking fish photos, switch your camera to a continuous focus mode so that you can autofocus and move the camera to follow the fish. I try to frame up the fish when it's to one side and the camera is at an angle to the glass...then just track him til he moves directly in front of me so the camera lens is parallel to the glass, then snap the photo. It definitely takes some patience. :)
 
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