Freshwater

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Part IV: Breeding and Other Fun Stuff
Setting up for close-ups
For good close-ups, make sure your subject fills at least 75 percent of the
frame — this keeps the background from overrunning or cluttering the shot.
Focus on the best aspects of the fish (a beautiful flowing fin, for example).
The Photography Tank
Fish can be a difficult subject to catch on film, so you need to do everything
possible to improve your odds of getting quality photos. If you plan to photograph
your fish in your main tank, you must take a few important factors into
consideration to insure good quality photographs.
Clear up the water. Avoid glare (reflected light) by making sure that the
aquarium’s water is as clear as possible. Any debris or suspended particles
(your toddler’s uneaten lima beans from dinner) may reflect light
and produce spots in your finished photos.
It’s a good idea to add extra mechanical filtration to the tank a few days
before you take the pictures. Another effective process is to filter all the
main tank water through standard floss (the same type you put in many
filters and can be bought at your local pet store). The only drawback to
this procedure is that it is quite time-consuming and can take anywhere
from two days to five years, depending on the size of your tank.
Clean the tank itself and the decorations. Remove all unsightly algae
from the glass of the aquarium; otherwise your photos may end up
resembling a bad still-life of chunky pea soup. Clean all plastic plants,
rocks, and other artificial decorations before your photo session begins.
The gravel in the tank should be vacuumed prior to shooting — a photographic
lens does not miss nearly as much intricate detail as the human
eye does.
Check the aquarium glass or acrylic surface for scratches. The surface
must be scratch-free to obtain the best photos. Several commercial
scratch-removal kits on the market remove imperfections from acrylic
walls.
Clean the lighting. If you’re using overhead or hood lighting in the photography
session, make sure that the cover glass is clean so that it
allows maximum light to enter. It is mandatory that the outer glass covering
each light remains translucent and clean.
Shut off all tank lights at least thirty minutes before you clean, for safety purposes.
(Photo lighting can be very hot and can cause serious burns if touched
or electrocution if accidentally knocked into the tank while cleaning.)