Freshwater

Always choose the slowest-speed film possible to avoid the grainy pictures
produced by faster films. Film speed is measured in numbers such as 100,
200, 400 and 800, and the lower the number, the slower the film speed and the
higher the level of detail, but the more light you’ll need to get good pictures
(see later in this chapter for more on lighting). A slow, fine-grained film such
as ASA 100 produces higher quality images that can also be enlarged with
better results than does a faster film such as ASA 400, which often makes
your pictures look as if they were taken during a desert windstorm. Increase
the lighting before you attempt to increase film speed. Begin with a 100 speed
film and work from there.
Make sure to have plenty of extra film on hand, because it may take several
rolls to get the one perfect shot you’re seeking. After you achieve lighting
proficiency and mastery of the camera and lenses, consider using slide film
(very slow film that offers bright, realistic color saturation,) which gives you
the ultimate in color saturation and picture quality.
Don’t overlook black-and-white film, either, which can be a simple yet exciting
medium that adds artistic impact to shots of rugged fish such as a convict
cichlid, and can show the delicate shades and fin details of a veiltail angel.
Black-and-white photography is an art form in itself, and you can get even
more creative with it if you decide to develop your own film in a darkroom.
Lenses
Chapter 21: Recording Data and Photographing Fish
A standard 50 mm lens works great on fish longer than 5 inches. But when
working with smaller fish, use a zoom, telephoto, or macro lens to help eliminate
background material. A macro lens is designed for taking close-ups and
offers a 1:1 ratio, which results in a large center-of-attention subject in the finished
photo. A 105 mm macro lens works great for small fish such as a pencil
fish. However, macro filters can result in decreased sharpness and depth of
field.
A zoom lens allows you to change the focal length of your lens to capture
different sizes of fish (and spy on your neighbors after the photo session).
A 100–200 mm zoom lens is a good lens to use for most smaller fish.
Telephoto lenses enlarge images that are far away and provide you with the
freedom to work at a distance from the aquarium. Taking photos from a
healthy distance helps avoid the possibility of your fish going into cardiac
arrest from fright during photo sessions.
The three disadvantages of telephoto and zoom lenses are as follows:
Camera shake due to the larger size and heavier weight of the lens if you
don’t use a tripod
271