OP
OP
thank you, the tanks colors are mostly pretty good. But some of the crazy colors are due to LED lighting of the frag photos. LEDS make corals show colors that you would not see under metal halides or even t'5s. And although, you can sometimes see hints of other colors, LED's literally make things pop. I used to think it was unfair showing led pictures but since the majority of reefers have LEDS either for dawn/dusk or their exclusive lighting system, lots of people see these colors presuming they have pretty coral. So I just try to identify what lighting the photo was shot under. I wish I was a better photographer, wish I was better at understanding color correction, use of filters, which filters, and wish I was better at lightroom or post production. I know some reefers like to brag about unedited pictures but that really means a picture that is not an accurate representation of what we actually see. In other words, it really is a yucky picture that presumes the lack of editing represents honesty and when in fact it is the opposite. All these picture tools are just that, tools to try to get the picture to look accurate as to what is seen. The difficulty is getting it right. It really is hard. On top of that, for reasons that I don't understand, some days pictures come out meh no matter what. I have learned to just wait for another day. I show a lot of pictures because I enjoy documenting growth and development. And I think I just like taking pictures of coral, it may be the primary reason I reef. Actually there is an aesthetic quality to seeing happy, thriving coral. It takes a long time from a funky frag to a pretty colony and so many things have to go right for so long before that happens.
I love technology. There are great lights and great corals. Great lights, great coral, great parameters and a whole lot of patience usually results in wonderfully colored up coral. It is funny/interesting that among reefing buddies, we get different success with the same coral (all frags came from same mother colony). Some of us get luckier with growth, others with color and some get no luck at all. Sps, well all coral, can be so darn finicky and humbling. I too get excited about new stuff, whether it be technology or a new frag.
I guess it is about time I share some metal halide pictures (from this afternoon, and no LEDS at all).
Vivid's Rainbow Delight I fragged a piece for a buddy a while back and it punished me with some loss of color. That is pretty routine for this coral, browning out both frags and mom on cutting. Anyway, it is starting to turn a corner and a hint of what awaits is there, I think.
Z's Blue Floyd Yup, it is still gorgeous under metal halides but you can't see the glowing blue tips without those lovely leds. In my mind's eye, the polyps are redder than in this picture, but if I tweaked the picture, it just started looking funky. So this is the best I could do (but it is not bad)
Purple Monster If you don't have it, you should. It is a classic for so many, many reasons. I had a big colony years ago, cut some frags for fellow reefers, lost it in a crash, but got a frag back of it. I guess this would make this piece the granddaughter of my original mother colony.
