Shrimps in a public marine aquarium

[CDM]

This photo was taken few yrs ago when I first visited that public aquarium, it was few months after I got my Sony DSC-F707.
The EXIF:
Shutter speed: 1/50s
Aperture: F2.0
ISO: 100
Auto focus
Auto exposuring
No flash allowed in the aquarium

http://photos.imageevent.com/codomo/tongsiaomarineaquarium/crabandshrimp/websize/DSC08357.JPG

[alanhill]

No flash allowed in the aquarium

Don't you just hate that? What do they think flash will do to their shrimps?
Anyway it's a nice clean shot, the colours look good and considering the aperture was f/2, the depth of field is not bad. However you are bound to lose the ends of the antennae, which is a pity. Ideally the shrimps (a pair?) would be a little closer together, but you've done well to get them both exactly in focus.

Alan

[CDM]

Yeah, I really hate that I can't use flash in the aquarium. That's the same reason I always have DOF prob on taking shrimp photos. The case even gets worse if I use the Rebel/105mm macro lens. I did remember the DOF prob, so I arranged the camera and angle so that both shrimps were in nearly same distance to camera. Thanks for the comment, Alan.

[ladyjai]

Well some critters get to the point where they'd run and hide from anyone who appeared if everyont was allowed to use flash photography. I think most are smart enough to associate the camera with the flash, but.. then you wouldn't even get that pic :). My apistos are that way, they see me and beg like crazy, they see the camera, and well, they are gone before i can even focus. :lol:

as to the picture, something is bothering me.. and i think it is because there is too much "empty" space. With the shallow DOF, and the rock in rear and the gravel in fore becoming blurry, it feels wasted. Not all things out of focus is wasted, but here, the focus is on the shrimp, and that blue really isn't the most flattering to them, so I'd suggest removing more of it. Since there is nothing highly interesting about the foregravel and the rock, they can be trimmed more. Perhaps this goes to Alan's scientific part. If the background doesn't contribute, crop it. Obviously not so much, but i could see cropping 2 inches from the top and an inch from the bottom and a wee bit on the sides. the focus needs to be on the shrimp with lack of better things to occupy our eyes.

I agree that if the antenna were in focus that would be great, but you've done a great job with the shrimp. they look spectacular. I particularly love the contrast of the shrimp on the rock. I suppose that would be an even harder challenge than photographing in your own tanks, as you can set them up to be.. well photogenic, lol. Going to an aquarium, well.. You get what you get. (not always the case, but often it seems)

I'd also suggest photoshoping the tank corner out. :)

Take what you will, HTH. :)

[turbomkt]

Obviously not so much, but i could see cropping 2 inches from the top and an inch from the bottom and a wee bit on the sides. the focus needs to be on the shrimp with lack of better things to occupy our eyes.

Not to nitpick, but looking at my screen a 2 inch crop off the top would cut the tail off the left shrimp. o)
In fact, I just measured it, and the picture is almost exactly 4 inches tall for me and just over 5 inches wide. The resolution someone operates at, along with the size of the screen makes a difference (Size really CAN matter :))

Maybe crop and post to give an idea? Could even be as simple as creating a shaded border to indicate the recommended crop.

And if you think I'm just dense, let me know. I'll be glad to bang my head on a wall to loosen things up :tongue:

[ladyjai]

Yes, I should have used pixels. that would inches when viewing it in an editing software at 72dpi (which is the standard dpi for web images).

hope this is ok, CMD, I'll take it off shortly
http://hopewelt.com/apf/notmine/editedshrimp.jpg

[CDM]

Jessica, thanks a lot. I've done the cropping:

http://photos.imageevent.com/codomo/tongsiaomarineaquarium/crabandshrimp/websize/DSC08357-1.JPG

[ladyjai]

much better :biggrin:

[benny]

The picture conveys a sense of playfulness amongst the shrimps. However, the quality of the picture is heavily discounted by the distortion. Shame.

As for composition, I do prefer the tighter presentation.

Cheers,

[CDM]

Hey Benny, I don't get the "distortion" part, please enlight. And, thanks for the comment.