reef tank photography with iPhone

[Ranjib]

I am sharing my iphone based photography tricks (not really) that I am very happy with because its relatively inexpensive, easy to learn and execute, and have been asked by several fellow reefers. Here is the short and sweet version:

- iPhone
- Camera+ app (3$)
- Olloclip macro pro lense (70$, required only for macro shots)

Following is my workflow:

1. Take image,. keeping subject or point of focus in 1/3rd height/width location , alsp called as 1/3rd rule
2. Post process photos with Camera+ app. Changing only these bits:
   1. Crop image. Remove any equipment, unwanted stuff. Sometime, retrofit the 1/3rd rule to bring the subject at 1/3rd of the photo's width/heigh. Often time to remove brighter, or other unwanted parts (glass reflection etc)
   2. Change the white balance. Also called as color temperature in the camera+ app. I go for a level where blue tint has gone completely from a normally white looking part of the tank.
      
   3. Sharpen the image. I do it very little. I'll acknowledge that I dont completely understand the best levels on this, other than its better only when applied subtle/less.
3. Depending on the time availability, often times I turn off power head or return pump.

I have a d5300, but I rarely use it now.. I guess at some point I'll get a macro lens for that as well, but I am very happy with the results of this inexpensive setup
photos to follow :-)

 

[Ranjib]

 

[aKlevans]

Awesome pictures!
I am wondering how you use the macro lens. The one I have only works when the object is extremely close to the camera.
Is the olloclip one any different?

 

[Ranjib]

Awesome pictures!
I am wondering how you use the macro lens. The one I have only works when the object is extremely close to the camera.
Is the olloclip one any different?

I am lucky that way, since I have two pico (2.7G and 3.7G ) and one nano (30G) tank, so I do get to see the corals from very close, which is pretty sweet spot for macro.

 

[aKlevans]

I am lucky that way, since I have two pico (2.7G and 3.7G ) and one nano (30G) tank, so I do get to see the corals from very close, which is pretty sweet spot for macro.

Ah, lucky!:)

 

[jsker]

;Stig

 

[Anthonykp17]

thanks ill try it so hard to make corals look like when i look into tank in pictures

 

[Ranjib]

 

[Mi_seriousbluereef]

Thank you for posting this. I’m going to get the Camera+ app and try taking some pictures.

 

[Ranjib]

Newer iPhone camera app has color temperature control built in

 

[biecacka]

Any other manual settings to recommend, or camera app? I have the iPhone 13pro and want to take better pictures. Here is a standard picture from my phone with no settings changed. Taken under Orpheks switched to 10k setting to not be so blue…

corey

 

[biecacka]

Not near as good as the ones above……


corey

 

[kaitykat]

Not near as good as the ones above……


corey

I actually found an app called Aquarium Cam. It’s like $3 but it works pretty good. I’m also a complete beginner to both saltwater and photography. The only thing is that it doesn’t like moving subjects lol
I usually take videos and then go back later and screenshot stills later