Photographing Coral

[smokin'reefer]

My advice for using a macro lens for tank photography:

Fit the lens hood, and hold that against the glass so you know you are absolutely parallel to the tank glass (anything other than parallel will cause distortion and massively reduce the quality of the image).

Use a fast enough shutter speed to avert any movement, or alternatively turn flow pumps off.

I prefer to manual focus, but my camera also notifies me when it's in focus with a green indicator even when on manual focus.

Try a series of f stops to see how much depth of field you want to achieve. Using your lens at f2.8 will give you a shallow depth of field, but hands you a faster shutter speed and lower ISO.

I use a Sigma 105mm lens and I use it for everything bar FTS - amazing bit of kit!

New camera body by Andy, on Flickr

Pink Hyacinthus Macro 11-1-17 by Andy, on Flickr

Ice Fire 1-4-15 by Andy, on Flickr

Blue Mille 1-4-15 by Andy, on Flickr

FFM 1-4-15 by Andy, on Flickr

Cirrhilabrus Exquisitus 5-1-17 by Andy, on Flickr

Pygoplites Diacanthus 26-2-17 by Andy, on Flickr

Paracheilinus mccoskeri by Andy, on Flickr

I really like your light modeling on the corals. That will be my next goal for macro. Yours and what denvercherub posted is just perfect in my opinion.

My advice for using a macro lens for tank photography:

Fit the lens hood, and hold that against the glass so you know you are absolutely parallel to the tank glass (anything other than parallel will cause distortion and massively reduce the quality of the image).

Use a fast enough shutter speed to avert any movement, or alternatively turn flow pumps off.

I prefer to manual focus, but my camera also notifies me when it's in focus with a green indicator even when on manual focus.

Try a series of f stops to see how much depth of field you want to achieve. Using your lens at f2.8 will give you a shallow depth of field, but hands you a faster shutter speed and lower ISO.

I use a Sigma 105mm lens and I use it for everything bar FTS - amazing bit of kit!

New camera body by Andy, on Flickr

Pink Hyacinthus Macro 11-1-17 by Andy, on Flickr

Ice Fire 1-4-15 by Andy, on Flickr

Blue Mille 1-4-15 by Andy, on Flickr

FFM 1-4-15 by Andy, on Flickr

Cirrhilabrus Exquisitus 5-1-17 by Andy, on Flickr

Pygoplites Diacanthus 26-2-17 by Andy, on Flickr

Paracheilinus mccoskeri by Andy, on Flickr

 

[BoomCorals]

That's the same lens that I have. What camera are you using and what autofocus settings are you on if I may ask? I have just found, for me, that manual focus is where I get my better pics.

I'm using my wife's canon EOS 5D mark iii. I have the lens set to full for AF.

 

[BoomCorals]

I used the Avast Marine porthole.
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/avast-marine-works-porthole

OMG thank you! Up to now I had been using a hand held top down viewer. This is EXACTLY what I needed!

 

[BoomCorals]

Figure this thread needed some more pics.

 

[BoomCorals]

Oh also something that is a good tip. You generally want to focus on whatever is closest to you. I know some people sometimes focus more on the "trunk" of the coral, but in the end it doesn't look right as the tips all closest to you are blurred out. If you want to have the tips and body in focus, you'll have to up the fstop, and likely need to be using a tripod with a delay as it will probably need a much longer exposure for f22+.

 

[Liquid360]

I used the Avast Marine porthole.
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/avast-marine-works-porthole

Wow... that is absolutely brilliant!!

 

[tvu]

Handheld shots with canon 60mm lens from 1st post

 

[tvu]

 

[Pandy]

Viewfinder use is a must, I only ever use my screen for image review.

I use AF a lot, most of the time really unless I want to achieve a specific image and the camera needs more of my input. For fish shots I use Lock-On AF which will lock onto a subject, and as long as I keep that subject in frame, it will follow it around - my god is that a god send! That plus a high shutter rate equals plenty of crap pictures, and a handful of half decent ones.

 

[Cherub]

This first shot, looks like this Acro is made up tiny hearts [emoji813]️

Are you going to show us the new improved pics? I'm dying to see

 

[kennedpa]

Figure this thread needed some more pics.

What's the first coral? I want a piece.

 

[Liquid360]

Are you going to show us the new improved pics? I'm dying to see

Today I'm doing a water change and will attempt "better" photos thereafter. I also just bought a nice frag rack so that I can get my frags next to the glass for better photos
My philosophy of life is to ALWAYS expect the worst so that anything good that happens is a pleasant surprise. What I'm saying is please expect poor images. [emoji4]

 

[Liquid360]

What's the first coral? I want a piece.

You mean like the mystical coral from the Old Testaments Genesis?

 

[kennedpa]

You mean like the mystical coral from the Old Testaments Genesis?

Sure?

 

[kennedpa]

This one. Have a frag of it?

 

[smokin'reefer]

Today I'm doing a water change and will attempt "better" photos thereafter. I also just bought a nice frag rack so that I can get my frags next to the glass for better photos
My philosophy of life is to ALWAYS expect the worst so that anything good that happens is a pleasant surprise. What I'm saying is please expect poor images. [emoji4]

Okay, Lowered Expectations duly noted. But, in my humble opinion, anybody that can spend two days taking one picture of Uranus should get pretty good at this pretty quick. I will probably be looking for tips from you in the near future.

 

[kennedpa]

Okay, Lowered Expectations duly noted. But, in my humble opinion, anybody that can spend two days taking one picture of Uranus should get pretty good at this pretty quick. I will probably be looking for tips from you in the near future.

Is this post going to open the pun door? Lol

 

[smokin'reefer]

What can I say, I'm a punny guy. Lol. Of course this thread already got hilarious with the what's the first Coral?, as in from the Old Testament you know, first Coral from the primordial ooze.

 

[kennedpa]

Ahhh hahaha. Now I get it. I had no idea where that was going, all I could think was seriously?! I just want a piece of it.

 

[smokin'reefer]

that is a sweet coral. And an excellent picture.
I know it says its a Bloody Mary stag. I have something close to it that is called a c kombucha tenias. From Cherry corals. Mine has a blue tip though and a little pinker in the polyps.