Light Glare - Top Down

shivvy · 02/19/2009, 10:45 AM

How do you guys get around the light glare while taking top down pictures?

I took one with my cell phone last night, but getting ready to use a nicer camera this weekend and want to be prepared.

Recty · 02/19/2009, 11:24 AM

You can use a polarizing filter, for one. Otherwise, in my very limited experience with trying top down shots, I just point slightly sideways when I take the shot so the reflection doesnt come straight back up at the lens.

shivvy · 02/19/2009, 11:33 AM

gotcha, I was thinking maybe a float box would help. I feel like I see a lot of great top down shots, but no one ever comlaining about the glare.

rydr119 · 02/20/2009, 06:22 PM

Try making sure you have enough light above you and the tank and take the pics with out a flash. I did this with my old 65, I had my halide attached to the top of the canopy and when I would open and prop the canopy I could get between the tank and the light and try not to burn myself and take the pic. Just be aware that the lights above your tank may cause a reflection as well. Other then that I'm not to sure. A photo box I would think would help but I have never used one personally.

Tremont · 02/20/2009, 06:28 PM

I really like using LED's for this sort of thing. You can typically buy battery powered LED video light arrays for relatively cheap (< $50) that you can mount on a tripod and then adjust to give just the right lighting. That way, you can also blast your corals with lights from another angle, avoid reflections and really show off the shadows, you can also do fine adjustments to the lighting angle and intensity that, imo, make using a flash unit unwieldy. I have found that I can get much better results if I can tweak a constant light source instead of taking lot's of test shots with a flash unit or taking pictures with my halides which flicker constantly.

-Tre

Heart & Sole · 02/22/2009, 11:19 PM

^^^got any shots that you could share using this technique?

Tremont · 02/23/2009, 12:15 AM

Almost every picture I've ever posted to these boards I use LED's over flash/halides. I also frequently use a large number of blue LED's at different distances/angle:

LED "spotlight" with an LED array further away for some ambient light:

-Tre

king4345 · 02/23/2009, 09:47 AM

I would try more light as stated and maybe a remote flash if you need one. I generaly setup for top downs with enough lighting that there is no no need for a flash.

glparr · 02/23/2009, 10:12 PM

To shoot top-down photos, move the corals to the side of the tank, preferably in a corner. This will eliminate the light glare factor. If you can't move the coral, try tipping the light fixture away from the tank. Yes, you'll be, in effect, shooting in shadows, but it shouldn't matter if you are using a tripod and have the flow turned off. The coral isn't going anywhere.

Use a tripod and extend the column to allow you to "hang" the camera over the surface so the lens face is parallel with the water. An ideal tool is a horizontal arm that can be extended over the water. Use a remote release or the camera's timer so you don't move the camera when tripping the shutter. Make sure the water surface is calm and there is no debris on the surface.

Here are some examples:

J. Montgomery · 02/24/2009, 09:44 PM

I have an acrylic camera box that I use.

02/19/2009, 10:45 AM	#1
shivvy Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 217	Light Glare - Top Down How do you guys get around the light glare while taking top down pictures? I took one with my cell phone last night, but getting ready to use a nicer camera this weekend and want to be prepared. __________________ I Like Ducks Current Tank Info: 14g BC 175wMH

02/19/2009, 11:33 AM	#3
shivvy Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 217	gotcha, I was thinking maybe a float box would help. I feel like I see a lot of great top down shots, but no one ever comlaining about the glare. __________________ I Like Ducks Current Tank Info: 14g BC 175wMH

02/20/2009, 06:22 PM	#4
rydr119 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lake Worth, Fl Posts: 846	Try making sure you have enough light above you and the tank and take the pics with out a flash. I did this with my old 65, I had my halide attached to the top of the canopy and when I would open and prop the canopy I could get between the tank and the light and try not to burn myself and take the pic. Just be aware that the lights above your tank may cause a reflection as well. Other then that I'm not to sure. A photo box I would think would help but I have never used one personally. __________________ If I could fit into my reef tank I wold be snorkeling right now. Current Tank Info: Custom 183 gal, Euro reef rs 250 protein skimmer, 400W 20K radium lighting, 2-darts, 75gal sump/fuge

02/23/2009, 09:47 AM	#8
king4345 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 103	I would try more light as stated and maybe a remote flash if you need one. I generaly setup for top downs with enough lighting that there is no no need for a flash. __________________ Hey, if WAL-MART is lowering prices everyday. Why isn't everything free yet? Current Tank Info: 56 gallon mixed reef currently IW

02/24/2009, 09:44 PM	#10
J. Montgomery Mouth Pipetting Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 6,278	I have an acrylic camera box that I use. __________________ Josh

02/19/2009, 11:24 AM	#2
Recty Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 6,584	You can use a polarizing filter, for one. Otherwise, in my very limited experience with trying top down shots, I just point slightly sideways when I take the shot so the reflection doesnt come straight back up at the lens.

02/20/2009, 06:28 PM	#5
Tremont Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 295	I really like using LED's for this sort of thing. You can typically buy battery powered LED video light arrays for relatively cheap (< $50) that you can mount on a tripod and then adjust to give just the right lighting. That way, you can also blast your corals with lights from another angle, avoid reflections and really show off the shadows, you can also do fine adjustments to the lighting angle and intensity that, imo, make using a flash unit unwieldy. I have found that I can get much better results if I can tweak a constant light source instead of taking lot's of test shots with a flash unit or taking pictures with my halides which flicker constantly. -Tre

02/22/2009, 11:19 PM	#6
Heart & Sole Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 76	^^^got any shots that you could share using this technique?

02/23/2009, 12:15 AM	#7
Tremont Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 295	Almost every picture I've ever posted to these boards I use LED's over flash/halides. I also frequently use a large number of blue LED's at different distances/angle: LED "spotlight" with an LED array further away for some ambient light: -Tre

02/23/2009, 10:12 PM	#9
glparr Waterbox Keeper Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: W. Dundee, IL Posts: 456	To shoot top-down photos, move the corals to the side of the tank, preferably in a corner. This will eliminate the light glare factor. If you can't move the coral, try tipping the light fixture away from the tank. Yes, you'll be, in effect, shooting in shadows, but it shouldn't matter if you are using a tripod and have the flow turned off. The coral isn't going anywhere. Use a tripod and extend the column to allow you to "hang" the camera over the surface so the lens face is parallel with the water. An ideal tool is a horizontal arm that can be extended over the water. Use a remote release or the camera's timer so you don't move the camera when tripping the shutter. Make sure the water surface is calm and there is no debris on the surface. Here are some examples: