First shot

[Graeaus]

here is my first shot on here

i cant get the right balance
my exposure is over exposing the japonica,or if i adjust it the detail is lost in my darker corners


http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a114/GraeAus/162_6281.jpg
i would love to update to a camera that gives me more control( have a old SLR at home but developing costs are a killer)

[Graeaus]

My camera only lets me adjust the exposure and turn the flash on and off
Its hard to use on the tank

i use a tripod.
use the timer function
and usually under expose it a touch

any other tips for a simple setup?

Thanks
Graeme

[alanhill]

It's a very pretty tank. I like planting :)
Is your camera limited to saving images as jpg files? If you can shoot RAW files, you can process them to reduce the contrast, which would help shots like this. Otherwise you need to find some way to even out the lighting to reduce the contrast - but I fear that is easier said than done.

Alan

[Graeaus]

you guessed correct its limited to jpg

I have tried to play with it on picasa but i haven't quite got the touch or the tools.
A good excuse if i ever heard one lol

I will keep trying and keep saving for a new camera.

Graeme

[Cuong]

On the same concept as diffusing the flash, any chance you could diffuse or reduce the overhead lighting for photography? That might reduce some of overexposure for now.

[Graeaus]

I don't know if i can explain this but i will try

i run 4 banks of t5s flouros over the tank.
I have tried shooting with them all turned off,one lot one ,all sorts of different lighting mixes.
I aren't saying Ive tried everything possible.I am only learning but i think i may have found the limitations of the camera( in my hands :rolleyes: )

I honestly feel that the camera is so "easy to use" that i have next to no options or control over it.

Graeme

[Graeaus]

This may sound silly,
but would it help if i could block the light that shines directly over the problem plant?
ie some paper over the lights in that area( just for the shots don't want a fire)

thanks for your help
and kind words

Graeme

[frankman]

Graeme
Nice tank. My plants are plastic, so I'm envious of anyone that makes the effort to grow real ones. All that lighting keeps your plants happy, but makes it hard to get good tank shots. I agree that you're going to have to diffuse the lighting somehow. What about that diffusion material they use in skylights? Experiment some more with different lights on/off. I'm only running 2 four-footers in my tank, and that's heaps of lighting for the sort of shot you're after.

Cheers, Frank

[Chrisl]

get a simple 1 0r 2 stop graduated neutral density filter. done. nice and simple.

[alanhill]

Basically you want as much light as you can get, so turning any lights off is likely to make it harder to get a decent shot. The problem is that the plants nearest the light are so much brighter than the others when you take a photo. Basically you need to reduce the overall contrast by getting more light into the darker areas and/or less light inot the brighter ones.
I like the idea of using a little diffusion over the areas that appear brightest - the spatterdock and the tall plants at the back. I think I'd try one or two Kleenex tissues cut or torn to the appropriate size and shape. It would be useful if you get some sort of photo of the set-up so that you have a record of it if you need to repeat it or modify it.
I think I'd combine this with trying to get more light into the lower areas. The best way would be to add a light to shine through the front glass to illuminate the lower front parts of the tank - but that would give you a horrible reflection, so that method is a non-starter. However you might be able to add more light through the sides: the simplest way would be to use white paper or card or plastic sitting against the side walls of the tank, this would reflect light escaping through the sides back into the tank. Would that be feasible in your tank?

Alan

[Graeaus]

just about anything is feasible.

If i can increase the light to all of the tank,then block the light on the over exposed plants,it just may work.
I will give it a go tomorrow night.

Thanks for all the tips and help

i will keep you posted.

Graeme