Johann Schutte Loc: NZ

70d, Sigma 50mm prime, ISO 100, F8, 1/250, off camera flash

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tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Those are very neat! I wish I knew how to do stuff like this!

PaulG Loc: Western Australia

Really nice pictures Johann. I love how you've isolated the subjects from the background; looks like they're floating in space rather than water. Number 1 and 3 stand out - terrific detail in number 3.

Sylvias Loc: North Yorkshire England

Great set....they look super downloaded. :)

Red Bear

Very nicely done :thumbup: :thumbup:

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Outstanding. I actually love that they are in isolation. Gives it a unique feel.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Should we start a new forum? Fish in Flight?

Red Bear

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :lol: :lol: :lol:

RE Loc: California

Have not seen much like this here, I love it!

Johann Schutte Loc: NZ

Thank you all for your comments.

Super easy hi-key fish photography.

3 small fish (approx 2 inches/5 cm in length) in a transparent $10.00 bowl, selected for least possible distortion (look through 'em when you buy to check for distortion). In hindsight a square container would have suited the purpose better - parallax would have been less.

White background, about 1 foot/30 cm behind the bowl.

Two Yongnuo speedlights placed laterally, and slightly from the front and elevated, which is enough to get the bg lit, without additional lighting. The Yongnuos are one of the best purchases I have made for table top photography. Cheap, sturdy, and run forever on recharchable NiMhs.

The first Yongnuo is attached to the camera via flash cord, the second optically slaved to the first.

1/250, F8, ISO100. WD approx 3 foot/1 meter.

Compositional considerations: Perspective from lower than the fish, which gives you that sense of a large/imposing subject looking down at you. Movement towards the camera is good, rather than shooting the fish's side, which gives you a flat, 'motionless' image.

Clean up the background in PP, as you would have to do with all hi-key.

That's all there is to it. Easy as falling out of a tree.

Regards

Johann

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Yep. You made it easy!

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

What great pictures, I love the way you have isolated them. I have seen how you have explained how you have done them, I have a small glass tank and I expect that would do fine. :thumbup:

Johann Schutte Loc: NZ

The biggest problem (as it always is with photography) is getting the light right. You will see some white 'bleed' towards the back of the fish. Its difficult to position the white bg optimally if you have a range of contrasts in your subject matter, as was the case with the fish.

If you do attempt it, my advice would be to start with a single fish, and add and tweak as you get you develop confidence in your formula.

Once I got the illumination and DOF under control, I shot approximately 200 over an hour period, of which I kept 10 (ain't digital great!). Some of them are on my website, as referenced in my signature.

Shooting handheld is also advisable, as it allows slight opportunistic adjustments of angle etc. Given shutter speed, a tripod is not necessary.

And keep the lights off if you can to avoid reflections. I used an led positioned diagonally behind the fish (which did not find to contribute to the 'bleed' to assist focus.

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Very attractive images, especially the first one.

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Very attractive images, especially the first one.