Telephoto Photography

Use a telephoto lens for your aquarium

Do you have fish in your aquarium? If you do, believe it or not, you can take beautiful pictures of the fish using a telephoto lens.

So just how does one do it?

First things first, set your photography equipment up. Before you start taking any pictures, just make sure that the tripod and the camera, as well as the light are located at the aquarium tank’s top. Do not immediately take any pictures. Let the fish get familiar with the equipment first. This will help them relax and so shots taken of them will look natural and candid.

Usually, the best film to use when taking shots of moving subjects – in this case, the fish – is an ISO 400 film. This type of film is able to take shots of quick moving subjects without the blur. This is also the best type of equipment to be used for an environment that is low on lighting yet fast in movement.

So how long should the lens be?

When taking pictures of aquarium fish, a lens with a measurement anywhere between twenty eight millimeters and eighty millimeters is best to use. For close up shots, use a tube that can be extended.

Be aware though that you need to try out different types of lenses and measurements to make sure that the desired effect you want to achieve is ultimately accomplished. Experimenting is the key. The type and length of the lens that works well outdoors may not work as well when used inside a fish tank.

Be sensitive of the shadows

Try, as much as possible, to observe any shadows that crop up in the background while you are taking your shots. It is best that you first wait a moment until there is a fish that appears to contrast against the background and away from any shadows. This ensures that your subject will appear clear in the final and developed picture.

And then there was light

The tank you are going to take pictures of should be well lighted. It is best that light be placed at the top of the tank. You need to be careful though when lighting is used in the water as electricity is involved. Make sure that the placement of the lighting is safe and secure to prevent any type of electric shock as this could prove to be fatal, both to the fishes as well as to the photographer.

It is also highly unadvisable to use your camera flash when taking pictures of aquarium fish. This is because the glare of the flash could give off a reflection or produce a shiny, glaring spot in the picture that could distract, if not ruin, the shot.

Focus, focus, focus

As much as possible, focus on the moving fish as it darts and swims across the water. It is during this time when you could determine the specific type of measurement, lens, aperture opening as well as shutter speed. Here is a good tip, if a fish is swimming towards you, try to increase the depth of field in your camera to create a much more focused and clear shot.

The secret to good photography

There is a way to take great pictures. However, it won't take just a few seconds, hours, days, weeks or months, but probably years to achieve. A lot of patience as well as a lot of practice is needed to perfect a shot, a photography technique and a photography skill.

Also, avoid having any electrical equipment near any form or types of water. Common sense dictates that doing so avoids any and all forms of electrical shock that could prove to be fatal.

All in all, photography is an art form and medium that is used to express any emotion, idea or message. For the photography hobbyist, taking pictures is a way to experiment and explore, while a serious photographer could just as well use photography to convey a concept that no other medium could best express. Photos not just capture a moment, but an idea whose time has come.