So I got a nice camera... the pictures I've taken are decent but not great. What modes/lenses do you guys use to get the good vibrant pics? I guess I need a lesson, but I don't really want to sit through a long session.

Also, do you guys turn off your pumps and stuff when taking pics? Just curious.

I don't turn my pumps off, but I know alot of people do.

The easiest way to get good macro shots is to take the highest quality picture you can with your camera and get as close as possible to your subject and then use software to crop and then magnify the area you want.

My camera's highest setting takes pics that are like 2. something MB's and the size is like 3000 x 3000. So when I crop it and then zoom in on it, the pic still looks awesome, b/c I started out with such a high quality resolution pic to begin with.

WB is something you will also want to play with when taking tank shots.

I also just bought a set of close-up filters, b/c they were cheap and I don't have $400 lying around to buy a macro lens. I'll let you know how those work out.

Also, a good photo-editing software will help alot too.

Photoshop Elements is a great software and is less than $100. It's kinda like XP Home vs Professional (Photoshop). It has alot of useful tools and settings, but it doesn't have everything normal Photoshop has, that you probably won't use anyway, or won't take the time to learn about, (years).

The best thing is to buy a good book on digital photography and then just take alot of pics and see what the different settings do and how they affect the pictures you take.

You have to understand proper exposure, before you can consistently take quality photos.

If you want some recommendations on books, let me know. I have read some great ones.

Yeah, let me know if the magnifying lens work. If not, I'm going to be adding a macro lens to my collection soon. So far this is one of my favorite pics... but I know you guys can take sharper ones.

Also, I know books are great... but I don't have the attention span for them... I don't even have the attention span for magazines. Need a quick lesson. Chris? Kayla? It's be nice if we can get a group together... Chris, you can have my $50.

That's a good pic in itself. A tip would be to up your F-stop to get a bigger depth-of-field, which in turn will make the entire fish in focus, as opposed to just his head. Somewhere around 8 or so should work out fine.

I hate to tell you this, but just like reefkeeping, photography is an in-depth hobby that takes years and years to get good at. Experience is the key thing and learning the basics of photography is a must.

If you spent the money for a nice camera and lens, you really should take the time to read at least one book on digital photography.

As has been said before, you can give an experienced photog a crappy POS and they can take high quality pictures and you can give a guy who doesn't know anything, the best DSLR on the market and his pics will still turn out like crap.

It's not something someone can give you a 15 minute lesson on and you're good.

But, maybe I'm wrong and I don't know what I'm talking about and someone else can post what they think.

Heh, I guess we'll see. Tony told me the same thing about running a reef tank... so far I've proved him wrong. ;)

BAH! Reading! Ppff! Buy the expensive lens.... buy pay me the debt you owe first. :roll:
Besides, you've only lost like 9 fish right? Youre not doing too bad. :lol2: