Photography 101For People That Like Fish Tanks

Content, Design, Photos - Joshua Gunder

Tonight’s DiscussionIntroduction

Key Photographic Principles Composition

Exposure Focus

Macro Photography

Aquarium Photography

Conclusion

IntroductionWho am I?

Not a Professional, Just Josh!

I Reserve The Right to be … Most Certainly Boring, Potentially Educational

Let me Know If You Already Know This Stuff We Can Watch TV or Watch Mike Kill Corals

Not into Photography? I Won’t be Hurt if You Leave. Just Wait For Me to Turn Around Please

Key Photographic PrinciplesAre Universal Regardless of Subject

Composition What is in The Scene and Where

Exposure Lighting, Film Speed,

Shutter Speed, Aperture

Focus What?

If these 3 are good,

your photo should be good

CompositionFrame The PictureCorrect Focal

LengthZoom in/outMove close/far

Wait For The Scene

Stony Corals Are Stiller

Get Close / PersonalDon’t Chop Off Parts

CompositionRule of Thirds

Intersecting Lines/Points on a 3x3 Grid

Creates a More Interesting Scene

Give the Subject Room to Move

Exposure - OverviewHow the Camera “Exposes” The Media to Light

Media is in The DarkUntil The Camera BlinksThen Camera Gets to See What’s In Front of It

How Much Light the Media Sees is Determined byHow Long The Camera Blinks (Shutter Speed)How Wide The Camera Blinks (Aperture)

Sensitivity of the Media can Also be Set (Film Speed)

Exposure – Overview ContExposure is the Most Important AND Difficult

You Don’t Really Know it Ahead of TimeYou Find Out Standing in Line at Costco

Cameras Have Light Meters ThatRead/Report Available LightReading it Helps You Set Shutter and Aperture

Auto Exposure / Program ModeCamera Read its Own Meter and

Sets Shutter Speed For You Sets Aperture For You Sets Film Speed (if a digital camera)

Exposure – “Film” Speed

High (ISO 400 – 800)Pros

Requires Less Light Allows Faster Shutter Allows Smaller Aperture

Cons More Noise Image May Not Enlarge Well

Low (ISO 100-200)Cons

Requires More Light Requires Slower Shutter Requires Larger Aperture

Pros Less Noise Image Will Enlarge Well

Establishes How Sensitive the Media is to LightConstrains Shutter Speed and Aperture

Most Digital Cameras Have Auto ISO Mode Increases Film Speed For You if Not Enough Light

Exposure - Shutter SpeedHow Long Camera Blinks in SecondsAt 1/4000th - Freeze a Hummingbird’s Wings

in FlightAt 1/60th - Please Don’t Sneeze Honey1/120th - Good Minimum For Fish PhotosShutter Priority Mode

You Specify Shutter and Camera Picks Aperture

Shutter Speed and ApertureAre Dysfunctional SpousesDependent But in Conflict

Exposure - ApertureSize of Camera’s Eye - Denoted by f-stopLow # Larger Eye (f 1.4)

Lots of Light Reaching Media Shallower Plane of Focus Requires a Faster Shutter Speed

High # Smaller Eye (f 16) Not Much Light Reaching Media Deeper Plane of Focus Require a Slower Shutter Speed

Aperture Priority ModeYou Specify Aperture and

Camera Picks Shutter Speed

Exposure - White BalanceCamera Trying to Make White Look White

Your 6500K Light May Yellow The Scene Camera Tries To Turn Whites Back to White

Auto White Balance ModeIs a Crapshoot

Works Well in Higher-End Cameras Not so Much in Lower-End Cameras

If Photo Looks Too Blue or Too YellowAdjust the White Balance Mode

Exposure - Putting it All TogetherShutter Speed and Aperture

Are Holding Your Photograph’s Exposure Hostage

Shutter Speed

Aperture

Typical Aquarium PhotoTo Expose Media to Enough Light a Low f Stop Was Used,

Thus the Focal Plan is Shallow and Anything Behind The Fish is Blurry

Exposure - CheatingDigital Cameras Have LCD Screens

We Can See Right Away if Photo Has Good Exposure

Digital Cameras Show Histograms

The Darkness or Brightness of Pixels in The PhotoToo Much on Left Too Much of Image is DarkToo Much on Right Too Much of Image is Light

Exposure - Final WordsOK to Sacrifice Background Exposure

For Good Foreground/Subject ExposureDon’t Use a Direct Flash

You Can’t Recharge an Anemone

WAKE UP

NEMO!!

FocusAuto Focus in Most

CasesA Slow Focusing Camera

Means Blurry PhotosStandard PAS Camera

Slower FocusingNot so Good For Fish

Manual Focusing Only in Some Scenarios

Night Photos Whole Tank Shots

Macro PhotographyBig Pictures of Tiny Things

High-End SLR Cameras Can Use Macro Lenses

Low-End Cameras Have Macro Mode Built-inWorks Surprisingly Well on Many Camera

Steadiness is The KeyPlace Camera on a Surface

Edge of Table, Tripod if You Have One

Aquarium PhotographyGet Entire Tank in The Shot

Stand at an Angle to Side of Tank to Fit it All In (if needed)

Use a Slower Film Speed (ISO 200) You Want to be Able to Make a Poster of This Thing Right?

Use a Tripod or Hold Really Steady In a Full Tank Shot From an Angle Perspective

Refraction and Diffraction is expected and Tolerable

Must Have Enough Light in Tank to Expose For A Medium Shutter Speed 1/60th - 1/180th

A Medium Aperture f 5.6-8 or Higher if at an Angle So Entire Tank is in Focus

If You Want External Surfaces Visible Be Careful Not To Add Reflections On Glass

ConclusionClean The GlassHalides Provide Good Lighting For PhotosStart with Corals / Fish Too Fast For Most PAS

CamerasFrame the Subject / Lens Perpendicular to

Tank WallCheap Cameras Focus SlowlyExposure is The KeyHigh-End Camera = Superior Exposure / Focus

ControlWhen All Else Fails Photoshop!

Questions?