How Do You Guys Take Good Photos?

[celaeno]

i have a canon powershot a560 7.1MP digicam and i can take decent pictures of my fish using the flash and the auto preset, but without flash, it comes out blurry no matter which preset i use.

i don't want to use the flash, though, as it makes the color of the photos unnatural and not what they look like to the naked eye.

how do i take good photos without using the flash? (the flash level can't be adjusted on my camera)

 

[n3ont3tra]

How I do it on my camera:
Put it on manual setting.
Set the shutter speed to about 1/80
Set the ISO to either 200 or 400
Turn the flash off
Hod the camera really really really really REALLY still
Turn on the two second thing so you won't move the camera
Take the photo

Hope this helps.
-neon

 

[sarah86]

I get my boyfriend to do it!

Seriously though, the advice given is pretty much spot-on.

To make life a little easier taking pics of individual fish, see if your camera has an Av mode - Aperture priority. Set this down as low as you can go for the biggest aperture (to let the most light in) and the camera will work out the shutter speed.
If your camera has a macro mode this might be useful. Put the camera lens right up against the glass to minimise reflections, and it might also help stabilise the camera a bit too.

 

[celaeno]

my camera doesn't allow adjusting of the shutter speed nor does it have av mode.

 

[funkyhoney]

Get a tripod or failing that, rest your camera on a chair or table to stabilise it, it helps a lot when you don't use a flash.

 

[celaeno]

does anyone know what long shutter mode is? i can adjust it anywhere between 1 and 15".

 

[pauly]

Take the photo at night. Turn on your tank's light and turn off every other light in the room. Then turn the camera's flash off and use a tripod or something to rest the camera on before taking the shot.

 

[funkyhoney]

does anyone know what long shutter mode is? i can adjust it anywhere between 1 and 15".

Probably exposure time, MAYBE film speed, you want a medium film speed and short exposure time for taking pics most of the time with fish.

 

[Meds081603]

Take the photo at night. Turn on your tank's light and turn off every other light in the room. Then turn the camera's flash off and use a tripod or something to rest the camera on before taking the shot.

I'm just getting started on fish photography so not sure how valid my opinion is but I'll give it anyway. Pauly's tips are exactly what I've had the best luck with. Either that or having everything completely dark including the tank and using the flash. I put the camera lens right on the glass and it seems to work pretty well.

 

[GRJ]

I use the macro feature on my camera along with the button to steady the frame and that allows you to get really good close up pics. Just remember though, for that special shot, you will need to take lots and lots of pics for just 1 decent one! I took nearly 100 shots to get one good one! Also, take the picture at a slight angle from the aquarium glass, that can get rid of reflections! Good luck and happy snapping! GRJ

 

[Underwurlde]

Best done at night will all room lighting OFF – only tank lighting on.
Highest possible camera quality setting
ISO 400 (or lower the ISO to get less grainy images) - or whatever, experiment...
No Flash
Zoom out (& then trim on a PC).
Focus on a stationary object & then move camera (in / out) & track.
White Balance – Set to ‘Fluorescent’.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=19038
http/www.jjphoto.dk/akvariefoto/index_uk.htm
http/www.melevsreef.com/take_great_pictures.html

Hope that helps too,

Andy