Advertisements
Aquatic Avenue Banner Tropica Shop Banner Fishy Business Banner
Results 1 to 19 of 19

Thread: need help on macro flash photography

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    singapore
    Posts
    244
    Feedback Score
    -1 (33%)
    Images
    152
    Country
    Singapore

    need help on macro flash photography

    Advertisements
    Fresh n Marine aQuarium Banner

    Advertise here

    Advertise here
    just got myself 3 new flashes.

    but i dont seem to get my lighting and shots right.

    just a few samples.

    can someone help me and tell me whats wrong with the picture and help me improve.

    can anyone advice me on whats wrong and what to look out for.

    what makes a good flash macro fish shot
    Last edited by juilian75; 9th Aug 2006 at 03:18.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    singapore
    Posts
    244
    Feedback Score
    -1 (33%)
    Images
    152
    Country
    Singapore
    i have one flash on cam and the other directly on top of tank

    whats wrong with the position and angle of flash

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Tampines, Singapore.
    Posts
    7,920
    Feedback Score
    0
    Images
    7
    Country
    Singapore
    wah you asking everywhere huh? I suppose I would paste my answer here too for others' comments and benefits.

    -----------------------------------------------------

    all look under exposed.

    first of all you don't need to use ƒ/32, it is way too small you can use ƒ/8 to ƒ/16 depending on the size of the fish. the higher it gets you will also suffer softness from diffraction effect (typically from ƒ/11 onwards for 90mm lens).

    your shutter is way too slow as well, 1/60s is too slow for 90-135mm focal range. suggest you try 1/200s at ƒ/11. also you can try aperture priority mode and compare the results.

    are you using the hotshoe mounted flash to command the other two flash? can this be moved off-shoe as sometimes the direct flash can give reflection problems.

    also start worrying about white balance. I hope you are shooting in RAW.
    why I don't do garden hybrids and aquarium strains: natural species is a history of Nature, while hybrids are just the whims of Man.
    hexazona · crumenatum · Galleria Botanica

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    singapore
    Posts
    244
    Feedback Score
    -1 (33%)
    Images
    152
    Country
    Singapore
    thank so much

    how abt the intensity of the flash does it play a part

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    singapore
    Posts
    244
    Feedback Score
    -1 (33%)
    Images
    152
    Country
    Singapore
    ok followed yr advice but used the same flash position .


    this is the result

    pls advice

    pls forgive me , i am trying to learn
    Last edited by juilian75; 9th Aug 2006 at 03:18.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    singapore
    Posts
    244
    Feedback Score
    -1 (33%)
    Images
    152
    Country
    Singapore
    how to acheive such results....

    sorry benny need to use yr example
    Last edited by juilian75; 9th Aug 2006 at 03:18.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Tampines, Singapore.
    Posts
    7,920
    Feedback Score
    0
    Images
    7
    Country
    Singapore
    Quote Originally Posted by juilian75
    thank so much

    how abt the intensity of the flash does it play a part
    yes of course. what I say primarily refers to the Canon E-TTL flash metering system so you have to adapt it to the Nikon system.

    flash intensity affects many things. one is the light penetration of the fish scales and body, second the dispersion on floating particles in the water. also the reflection from the substrate, which then brings in the question of balance of illumination from the top and on the ventral side. in your second set of pix you can see the fish belly are much too bright compared to the dorsal. next is also the colour cast caused by the reflection off the substrate.

    one day we should go down to the Great Hall of The Azmi, get Alan as well, and have some hands on experiment.
    why I don't do garden hybrids and aquarium strains: natural species is a history of Nature, while hybrids are just the whims of Man.
    hexazona · crumenatum · Galleria Botanica

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Tampines, Singapore.
    Posts
    7,920
    Feedback Score
    0
    Images
    7
    Country
    Singapore
    Quote Originally Posted by juilian75
    how to acheive such results....

    sorry benny need to use yr example

    on of benny's secret is to diffuse the light, use a lot of tissue paper or a really good white tupperware.

    also he has post processed his pix, I think yours are just right off ACD conversion?

    one more thing is the colour management. pick a colour space e.g. Adobe RGB or sRGB, and stick to it throughout your workflow. changes in workspace and really screw up your colour and introduces strange colour cast or causes colour washouts.
    why I don't do garden hybrids and aquarium strains: natural species is a history of Nature, while hybrids are just the whims of Man.
    hexazona · crumenatum · Galleria Botanica

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Hougang
    Posts
    3,747
    Feedback Score
    0
    Images
    199
    Country
    Singapore
    Use a A4 paper instead of tissue...
    Tissue will still not diffuse as much... Not sure whether Nikon's flash has a built-in diffusor, if have can use that also...

    All benny's pic has some sort of post processing due to the placement of the top flash which reflects the colour of the substrate onto the body of the fish... Most of the time is merely to get the colouring right... Nothing fancy...
    ~ Vincent ~ Fishes calm your mind...
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/valice/





  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Tampines, Singapore.
    Posts
    7,920
    Feedback Score
    0
    Images
    7
    Country
    Singapore
    colour cast of substrate onto fish body that one cannot save already. major photoshop operation to fix leh. fixing colour cast refers to the overall coloration overlaid onto almost everything. white balancing can only fix light temperature related colour cast, but not partial colour overlay on parts of the scenery only.

    most post processing also involves some amount of level or curves adjustment, and brightness/contrast adjustment.
    why I don't do garden hybrids and aquarium strains: natural species is a history of Nature, while hybrids are just the whims of Man.
    hexazona · crumenatum · Galleria Botanica

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    singapore
    Posts
    244
    Feedback Score
    -1 (33%)
    Images
    152
    Country
    Singapore

    got it

    thank you for yr advice.


    I think i got it now..

    with photo editing
    Last edited by juilian75; 9th Aug 2006 at 03:18.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    singapore
    Posts
    244
    Feedback Score
    -1 (33%)
    Images
    152
    Country
    Singapore
    without editing
    Last edited by juilian75; 9th Aug 2006 at 03:18.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    singapore
    Posts
    244
    Feedback Score
    -1 (33%)
    Images
    152
    Country
    Singapore
    still need help on these 3 . pls help

    how to get more light to light up the side and top back of the fish.
    Last edited by juilian75; 9th Aug 2006 at 03:25.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    singapore
    Posts
    244
    Feedback Score
    -1 (33%)
    Images
    152
    Country
    Singapore
    one more whats wrong still not happy with it.

    how to improve and wat to improve ...maybe the flash direction wrong?
    Last edited by juilian75; 9th Aug 2006 at 03:25.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Tampines, Singapore.
    Posts
    7,920
    Feedback Score
    0
    Images
    7
    Country
    Singapore
    is your flash using a diffusor? either open the built-in diffusor panel or use a4 paper, or white tupperware. diffusor spreads out the light thus softening it and allow more areas to be illuminated to due the light coming from different angles.

    where are the flash atop your tank? I prefer to place them near the front of the tank, with diffusor open. this increase the amount of light falling onto the forward (facing you) flank of the fish, and also some internal reflection off the front glass helps to light up the flank too.
    why I don't do garden hybrids and aquarium strains: natural species is a history of Nature, while hybrids are just the whims of Man.
    hexazona · crumenatum · Galleria Botanica

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Tampines, Singapore.
    Posts
    7,920
    Feedback Score
    0
    Images
    7
    Country
    Singapore
    don't forget to seat yourself lower to get a better side-on angle.
    why I don't do garden hybrids and aquarium strains: natural species is a history of Nature, while hybrids are just the whims of Man.
    hexazona · crumenatum · Galleria Botanica

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    singapore
    Posts
    938
    Feedback Score
    0
    Images
    1
    Country
    Singapore
    steady lah bro Juilian !

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Posts
    4,923
    Feedback Score
    4 (100%)
    Images
    375
    Country
    Japan
    Try shooting the fish on the side.. it helps.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Posts
    316
    Feedback Score
    0
    Country
    United_States
    Quite a bit of light you have there. Unless the tank is really long, you can get away with just two flashes. One from the top and one from the side to even out the exposure a tad. Here's an example shot using two SB-800s in a rather dirty tank.

    Eric

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •