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Thread: Using Flash Photography on Fish

  1. #1
    Administrator and MVP Dec.2015 Second Hand Pat's Avatar
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    Default Using Flash Photography on Fish

    So I am using a speedlight to attempt to take pictures of the contest fry. I have the speedlight on top of the tank with a diffuser. I admit I am underwhelmed with the results. First the speedlight limits my SS to 250 and I am bring the aperture down to F/10 or so due to the brightness of the speedlight. ISO is 100. I find I want to shoot the fish dark to capture the fine detail. Using a Sigma macro lens. Suggestions??
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    Registered Member dagray's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using Flash Photography on Fish

    can you adjust the speedlight's flash interval like you would adjust the exposure interval on the camera? Some speedlights will let you cut the light up to 2.5 full stops.

    You could also set your speed light for high speed, adjust your ISO to 400 or even up to 1600, then open the aperture and use a faster shutter speed to get your desired effect.

    F10 gives you clarity through out your depth of field, but when shooting fish usually you are shooting close to one focal plane.

    Good luck
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    Registered Member rickztahone's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using Flash Photography on Fish

    250ss bounce line sucks about the limits of flash, however, there is a workaround by buying some cheap triggers. You can go above the 1/250 ceiling this way so you aren't limited

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    Administrator and MVP Dec.2015 Second Hand Pat's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using Flash Photography on Fish

    Dave, I figured out at to change the brightness of the speedlight so I have now to 1/8 and a aperture of 3.5. But can I change the flash interval of 250?
    Pat
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    Administrator and MVP Dec.2015 Second Hand Pat's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using Flash Photography on Fish

    Quote Originally Posted by rickztahone View Post
    250ss bounce line sucks about the limits of flash, however, there is a workaround by buying some cheap triggers. You can go above the 1/250 ceiling this way so you aren't limited
    I have a controller Ricardo which acts as a trigger. Maybe I should play with that?
    Pat
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  6. #6
    Registered Member dagray's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using Flash Photography on Fish

    Quote Originally Posted by Second Hand Pat View Post
    Dave, I figured out at to change the brightness of the speedlight so I have now to 1/8 and a aperture of 3.5. But can I change the flash interval of 250?
    Pat
    you should be able to change the sync speed on the flash from 250... most flashes sync at 1/160, 1/180, or 1/250. My flash has a high speed option so it will sync at faster shutter speeds. I am running the Pentax AF 540 flash (but I know that doesn't help you). Another suggestion is to use trailing curtain flash so that the flash fires at the end of the shutter actuation instead of firing at the beginning of the shutter actuation.

    Shoot in RAW and underexpose, and then in post processing (when you open the file to do your editing) you can bring the exposure back up. RAW is like having all of the puzzle pieces to make a picture, and JPEG is like having most of the puzzle pieces there with your brain filling what is missed with 10% of the pieces gone.
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    Administrator and MVP Dec.2015 Second Hand Pat's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using Flash Photography on Fish

    Thanks Dave

    A few examples...could be better..

    DSC_6434.jpg

    DSC_6438.jpg
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    Moderator Team LizStreithorst's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using Flash Photography on Fish

    All of y'all were talking over my head but Pat got it. Excellent results, Pat.
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  9. #9
    Administrator and MVP Dec.2015 Second Hand Pat's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using Flash Photography on Fish

    Quote Originally Posted by LizStreithorst View Post
    All of y'all were talking over my head but Pat got it. Excellent results, Pat.
    Thanks Liz

    Had a text convo with Al and Ricardo and with their tips came up with this...still room for improvement

    DSC_6463.jpg

    DSC_6462-2.jpg

    DSC_6465-2.jpg

    DSC_6469.jpg

    DSC_6472.jpg
    Last edited by Second Hand Pat; 10-19-2018 at 07:31 AM.
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    Registered Member + MVP danotaylor's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using Flash Photography on Fish

    Wow Pat great job. I'm with Liz...it's a whole different language...I'm at work tonight and got floated from the Med/Surg ICU to work in the the Cardiovascular ICU...I have been a nurse for 24 yrs and tonight receive shift report from a new graduate still in orientation. I had to keep interrupting her and asking "what does that abbreviation mean?" The language & terminology related to specific areas of expertise is no too dissimilar to a foreign language LOL

  11. #11
    Administrator brewmaster15's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using Flash Photography on Fish

    Quote Originally Posted by Second Hand Pat View Post
    Thank Liz

    Had a text convo with Al and Ricardo and with their tips came up with this...still room for improvement

    DSC_6463.jpg

    DSC_6462-2.jpg

    DSC_6465-2.jpg

    DSC_6469.jpg

    DSC_6472.jpg
    Pat looks like you are good to go. Nice job on the pics and fry so far.
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    Administrator and MVP Dec.2015 Second Hand Pat's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using Flash Photography on Fish

    Quote Originally Posted by danotaylor View Post
    Wow Pat great job. I'm with Liz...it's a whole different language...I'm at work tonight and got floated from the Med/Surg ICU to work in the the Cardiovascular ICU...I have been a nurse for 24 yrs and tonight receive shift report from a new graduate still in orientation. I had to keep interrupting her and asking "what does that abbreviation mean?" The language & terminology related to specific areas of expertise is no too dissimilar to a foreign language LOL
    Thanks Daniel, I was a software engineer in my working life and very time I started a new assignment the first thing to learn was all the assignment specific acronyms. I am sure the medical field has why more then my job ever had.
    Pat
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  13. #13
    Administrator and MVP Dec.2015 Second Hand Pat's Avatar
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    Default Re: Using Flash Photography on Fish

    Quote Originally Posted by brewmaster15 View Post
    Pat looks like you are good to go. Nice job on the pics and fry so far.
    al
    Thanks Al for the assist. I am putting it to good use
    Pat
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