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Shooting Fish In Low Light

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Robert Ketley

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I took my D70 ( with 18-70 kit lens) on a recent trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The stunning visuals proved to be tough to convert into decent shots. The problem is that the lighting is very subdued, the fish are constantly moving and the glass makes the use of a flash less than ideal. I eventually managed to get some semi- decent shots in aperture mode at the lowest f stop, 1/30 second shutter speed and by bumping the ISO to 1000 or 1600. However, the graininess of the pictures is readily apparent.

Is there any setup (lens?) that would enable me to shoot in the low light conditions while using an ISO below 800 and a shutter speed at or faster than 1/30 second?

Thanks in adavance for any feedback,

Rob
 
Here are a couple I shot at the Winnipeg Zoo ... I used a D70s with Nikkor 70-210 f4 and Tamron 1.4x teleconverter. The shots are lit by an SB600 on cam with an omni-bounce.





--
http://letkeman.net/Photos
 
while the 50 1.8 is quite a bargain. i would think that 50 mm would be a little to narrow and a 30 1.4 sigma would be slightly better for that and a little faster. they are 3-400 i think. if thats outta your budget you can get a 50 1.4 for 250ish and the 50 1.8 for around 75 used or so.
--
The past is just the future that already happened..... :)
 
Robert Ketley said:
Some of the exhibits prohibit the use of a flash. I was thinking
about 50 1.8 D lens?
Click to expand...
You are balancing the need for a lot of light to stop the fish (they swim almost conatsntly) versus the need ot reach in and isolate a fish from all the surroundings.

The 50mm is equivalent to a 75mm short tele, so you might do ok with it. The 1.8 might be enough to get a reasonable shutter speed if the tank is very well lit. But that is rarely true.

Realistically, I would not expect too much without the use of flash.

--
http://letkeman.net/Photos
 
The 50/1.8 might be a good way to start if you don't feel like spending the big money.

I have used the 50/1.8 and the Tamron 90/2.8 with pretty good results, but then again, the lighting might vary quite a bit between different tanks. I used f/2-4 and ISO800-1600 most of the time.

I think there is no problem using ISO1600 though.

Here are the shots I took at the place that I visited:

http://dumbo.mine.nu/photo/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=23
Robert Ketley said:
I took my D70 ( with 18-70 kit lens) on a recent trip to the
Monterey Bay Aquarium. The stunning visuals proved to be tough to
convert into decent shots. The problem is that the lighting is very
subdued, the fish are constantly moving and the glass makes the use
of a flash less than ideal. I eventually managed to get some semi-
decent shots in aperture mode at the lowest f stop, 1/30 second
shutter speed and by bumping the ISO to 1000 or 1600. However, the
graininess of the pictures is readily apparent.

Is there any setup (lens?) that would enable me to shoot in the low
light conditions while using an ISO below 800 and a shutter speed
at or faster than 1/30 second?

Thanks in adavance for any feedback,

Rob
Click to expand...
 
is your answer - these are from the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago - very low light especially the sea horses...











--
'Procrastinate now, don't put it off.'

 
Robert

Indeed Aquarium photography is quite difficult and challenging. I live in Belmont Shore (Long Beach) CA and am a charter member of the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. I have spent over 6 years perfecting my technique for such photography. I think I have been pretty successful just using a prosumer Nikon (8700). Below you will see one sample and 2 of my Marine Life albums using that camera. There is no reason you cannot get excellent results using a D70. One big problem with the D70 is that it is quite noisy and higher ISO settings (even at ISO 200!). Fortunately the noise does not seem to show so much on Aquarium shots.

Here are a few of my "tricks".

Make sure the acrylic you are shooting through does not have any scratches. Take a microfiber towel with you and clean off the smudges.Now, anhor your camera very near the acrylic but don't actually touch the acrylic. Use both hands against the glass to keep the camera steady. Set the ISO setting to 400 or higher. Shoot with NO FLASH as I do. Otherwise the colors are sure to wash out and you may get some flashback from the acrylic. If you isnist on using flash make sure you shoot at an angle and perhaps aim the flash upward. And finally, practice, practice, practice and by patient.

Next week I will finally have my D80 and itially I am going to use the 50 mm f1.8 to gater as much light as I can. I would imagine the 50 mm f1.4 would be even better.

Marine Life Album #1

http://www.pbase.com/xl1ken/fish1

Marine Life album #2

http://www.pbase.com/xl1ken/fish2

One photo I am rather proud of



Ken
Robert Ketley said:
I took my D70 ( with 18-70 kit lens) on a recent trip to the
Monterey Bay Aquarium. The stunning visuals proved to be tough to
convert into decent shots. The problem is that the lighting is very
subdued, the fish are constantly moving and the glass makes the use
of a flash less than ideal. I eventually managed to get some semi-
decent shots in aperture mode at the lowest f stop, 1/30 second
shutter speed and by bumping the ISO to 1000 or 1600. However, the
graininess of the pictures is readily apparent.

Is there any setup (lens?) that would enable me to shoot in the low
light conditions while using an ISO below 800 and a shutter speed
at or faster than 1/30 second?

Thanks in adavance for any feedback,

Rob
Click to expand...
--
Photoshop Online Resource Guide

http://www.porg.4t.com/LatestLinks2.html

Your comments and critiques always welcome

Ken Leonard
Belmont Shore, SoCal
pbase supporter since 2001
Nikon Coolpix 8700
Nikon Coolpix 5000 w/ WC-E68 19 mm equiv. wide angle adaptor

Nikon Coolpix 8700 Sample shots

http://www.pbase.com/xl1ken/87t

Nikon Coolpix 8700 Online Resource Guide

http://home.earthlink.net/~xl1ken

15,000 + classic car photos and much more at:

http://www.kensclassics.com
 
Thanks for all of the great replies. Guess I will start with the 50 1.8 and go from there.

As for the Great White, he looks rather pathetic alongside the Yellowfin Tuna. Those guys are seriously huge!
 
If you're talking about one of my pics, that is actually a smaller hammerhead shark. Those Tuna are still huge though.
Robert Ketley said:
Thanks for all of the great replies. Guess I will start with the 50
1.8 and go from there.

As for the Great White, he looks rather pathetic alongside the
Yellowfin Tuna. Those guys are seriously huge!
Click to expand...
--
'Procrastinate now, don't put it off.'

 
those are very nice vladik. I really need a wider fast prime like that. 35mm f/2.0 sounds perfect. Actually a 35mm f/1.4 would be amazing if there is such a beast. The 50mm on the D70s is not wide enough, you can get creative, but it can be cumbersome at times trying to get a good shot - 35mm is more flexible...
Vladik said:
Vladik said:
All shots are taken with my brand new 35mm f/2.0, with D50 with ISO
800 and 1600. Exif is available in the image file, if anyone is
interested
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
'Procrastinate now, don't put it off.'

 
i have the 8700 and i just move up to the d80. i also have a p4 that i use for traveling (relevant to my question). you will love the difference. the d80 produces about a four times better shot. don't get frustrated but you will find the d80 less forgiving at times then the 8700.

my question: i enjoyed your aquarium shots. i find my 8700 is painfully noisy from iso200 on. my shots at iso400 would have looked like tv static. how did you control the noise so well?

--
d80
sigma 70-200 f2.8 macro
nikon 50 f1.4
 
Thanks for the heads up (re: d80)

Indeed the 8700 is quite noisy even at 200. Actually most of my shots are at ISO 100 and even ISO 50. As I stated I anchor the camera with my hand with the lens very near but not touching the acrylic. This takes a lot of time and practice a luxury I have since I can go to the aquarium anytime.

I do suspect that the D80 will be MUCH better. Not only for less noise at higher ISO levels but much faster response.

Give me a week or two and I will share my new Aquarium shots with you using the D80 (which I get Thursday).

Ken
hiro_pro said:
i have the 8700 and i just move up to the d80. i also have a p4
that i use for traveling (relevant to my question). you will love
the difference. the d80 produces about a four times better shot.
don't get frustrated but you will find the d80 less forgiving at
times then the 8700.

my question: i enjoyed your aquarium shots. i find my 8700 is
painfully noisy from iso200 on. my shots at iso400 would have
looked like tv static. how did you control the noise so well?

--
d80
sigma 70-200 f2.8 macro
nikon 50 f1.4
Click to expand...
 
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