Freshwater

Strobe lights generally have a flash duration of 1 ⁄1500 of a second and are very
effective in stopping action if you are photographing a fast-swimming fish in a
large tank that isn’t equipped with restraining glass. (A restraining glass is an
inserted piece of glass that is used in small photo tanks, usually 2–5 gallons,
to gently pin the fish against the aquarium glass so that it will not move while
its picture is being taken.) Strobe lights are usually powered either by electricity
or rechargeable cadmium batteries.
If the subject of your photo session is a very dark fish, move the lighting
closer to the tank to compensate. On the other hand, if the fish is white or
of a very light complexion, move the lighting back from the subject.
If your pictures are too dark or too light, try adjusting the lighting before
you start messing around with lens settings. For optimal results, take a series
of pictures as you slowly adjust your lighting from near to far. You’ll be
rewarded with at least one picture with the best lighting possible. A series of
photos can be valuable to your future shots, too. You can sit down and review
different lighting angles and distances to see what worked. If you are using a
digital camera, you will be able to get a good idea of how the lighting is going
to work by using the LCD screen without wasting film. You simply follow the
camera’s instructions for erasing bad shots from the memory device.
Red-eye (also known as vampire syndrome,) is the common name for reflections
caused by lighting placed very close to the subject. You can avoid it by
working with the light adjustments mention earlier in this section. For digital
shots, you can use image-manipulation software to remove most red-eye
problems.
Another option is to aim your flash or strobes up at a mirror or white card
suspended above the tank. The light reflects off the mirror or card and
bounces back onto the subject, creating a softer look. This method is popular
for delicate-looking species, such as angelfish and other long-finned tropicals.
Make sure that the mirror and cards you use are clean and free of streaks.
If you’re a fairly serious photographer, you can purchase a photographic
umbrella to diffuse light. The manager of your local photo shop can make
sure you get the proper piece of equipment for the job. Remember that a
bounced flash loses up to half of its original intensity, so adjust your calculated
exposure accordingly.
Focusing Techniques
Chapter 21: Recording Data and Photographing Fish
The focus of a camera is determined by the aperture, or opening, of the lens,
which decreases as the size of the image increases. The aperture itself is a
hole in the lens which regulates the amount of light striking the film. The
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