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Here’s another one. I’m actually running this tank at home right now. Really cool little scape for blue neon gobies!

Before and after. Photo credit @taistrietman Grateful to be involved with such an inspiring project with Tai Strietman, and so much support from friends, colleagues and businesses. Planned release date late 2023. Follow #aquatichabitatsbook on the socials.

I spent a whole morning filming at @Aquarium Gardens for @Tropica YouTube content the other day. This was one of my favourite captures. Excited to meet some of you guys there on the 26th March!

I miss you, Clive. Nice pic Mow! Practice is the number one way to improve your technique and overall ability.

I visited Ryan (Thang To) yesterday... :)

Thanks guys. :) Just set up another Nature Aquarium and will be setting up a nano reef too!

Hi all, I wasn't sure where best to post these. I spend a fair bit of effort and time on these photos though, so here we are... Aquascaper 300, 600 and 1200. Aquascaper 300 Cube by George Farmer, on Flickr Aquascaper 600 by George Farmer, on Flickr Aquascaper 300 Cube by George Farmer, on...

Yes :)

I hope you don't mind but here's a quick example using Photoshop CS3. Boosted shadows, reduced highlight, small 'S' curve and unsharp mask. Because I on'y processed the small image direct from the forum, there's a lot of noise in the shadows, and the blown highlights in your cat are...

The least expensive and easiest way is via Photoshop or similar. Boost shadows, reduce highlights. Curves are also very effective. The other method is to equalize the lighting by using flash or another light source to fill the shadows. Lovely capture, and scape, by the way. :)

Nothing wrong with used bodies (or lenses). :)

Lovely. ND filters?

That's true, Clive. A better camera won't make you a better photographer, but from personal experience it can allow you to take better photos (and now HD video too). :) The higher ISO handling on the latest generation is really a game changer for me and my aquarium photos.

Put it in manual mode (M on the dial) and learn to use it properly. :) Learn about aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and how they all relate. Learn about composition. :)

I doubt you'd need more than ISO 6400 and noise may be unusable that high on a cropped sensor, so I wouldn't opt for the 700D on that alone. I rarely go above 1600, maybe 3200 for lazy handheld macro stuff.

If budget is tight I would personally go for 600D with Sigma 17-70.

You won't see much difference in image quality between the 600/60/70, but the 60/70 have better build quality and more advanced features. The 6D is full frame so has a big improvement on IQ, especially high ISO handling which is very useful for aquarium and indoor portraits (for your daughters...

Like Tom says in his excellent post, it's worth investing in a decent dedicated macro lens, but they are relatively expensive. 3rd party manufacturers i.e. Tamron, Sigma, Tokina are worth a look. Probably around £250-£350. You can get macro filters that screw on to the supplied kit lens...

Any DSLR over any compact, almost without exception.

Posted same time as Tom! Definitely second the notion of investing in decent glass. :)

Hi Iain I don't think you'll see any improvement in image quality from 600D to 7D. They're basically the same sensor. I'd choose the 600D. 7D is a more rugged beast with a great burst frame rate - ideal for birds and sports etc. For general stuff and aquatics the 7D offers no real advantage...

I guess my post may have sounded like I was bragging. Sorry.

My Canon 6D has an in-built HDR mode option. Works well. I'll post a pic later.

Hi Darren, Michael's post is good but if your camera is a basic point and shoot then you may not have control over aperture, shutter speed and ISO (but learning these is fundamental to becoming a good photographer). I used to shoot a lot of aquarium stuff with a basic compact and even had...

Nice. My biggest tip is to learn to shoot in manual mode (M on the dial). You'll need to learn about aperture, shutter speed and ISO - what each does and how they're related. There's some good articles on the net to explain the basics. Judging from the pic look at adjusting white balance...

Well, I will never advocate the use of Class A substances but I love high ISO all day long. If I can use fast shutter speeds and small apertures without the need for loads of aquarium light then that's always a good thing! :)

Thanks. :) I love the Canon 100mm macro. :) And yes, the 6D is a massive improvement over my 5 year-old 50D. Earlier I was shooting fish at ISO 6400 and the noise was about the same as ISO 800 on the 50D. Not to mention the video and WiFi functions. All these were shot at ISO 1600 and...

Hi all, It was a lovely day so I thought I'd get outside and take a few photos of some of the beautiful flowers I have in my garden. Taken with my new Canon 6D and trusted 100mm macro lens. My favourite is the yellow lily. I think the dark green background contrasts brilliantly.

Why would anyone shout at you or want those beautiful photos removed?! Thanks for sharing mate. Very inspiring. :)

In the woods. And it's a great photo mate. Thanks for sharing. :)

I agree. I already have nice lenses and flashes that will be used on the 6D. I'm not buying the 6D on a whim to keep up with the latest trends. I am buying it because my 50D is over 5 years-old and is getting tired. I use it a lot! Check out the Flickr link below. :) I can't wait to be able to...

Not sure what your point is, Tom.

That's an awesome rig! I have a decent tripod, so will stick to the basics for now, if I do get one. To be honest I've been holding back mostly because I know that if I get a DSLR with video, it will likely become another hobby entirely, and dilute my time even further. Which won't be good...

You can pick them up for under £1300. I only need the body.

Hi Tom, As always mate, there's lots of different views, but the Ken Rockwell review is contrary to the issues you state. It's almost academic for my requirements. I'd just be excited to reap the benefits of FF and video for aquarium photography/videography.

I think I've found my next camera. I've been longing for a full-frame DSLR for years, and now this one is relatively affordable. Canon 6D Review Almost as good as a 5D3, arguably better than a 5D2, and cheaper than both. Anyone got one or know anyone with one?

Must....resist....the....urge...to...get...a....5D Mk2... :)

Still on CS3! :)

Powerful indeed. Thanks for posting, Ian.

Canon 50mm f/1.8 It's a great value lens. The build quality and autofocus are poor but the optics are excellent. Build quality isn't an issue unless you plan on using it a lot outdoors in all weather and conditions. It's a particular good lens for full tank shots, but not good for close-ups...

Sure, if they want to share then I'm sure they'll post here soon enough. :)

Thanks for the reminder. I've just PM'd the winner.

Thanks. 100mm on an APS-C sensor, so equivalent to 160mm on a 35mm film SLR or full-frame DSLR. If you're interested in more of my settings you can view the EXIF data on my Flickr. Cheers, George

Thanks, all! :) Actually I think this was the only one in this series taken with studio flash. Maybe I should stop being so lazy and use it more! :lol:

I didn't even notice the snail until I edited this shot for publishing! cherry by George Farmer, on Flickr

Do tell. :)

Beautiful shots, guys. Really inspirational. The sense of perspective is magnificent!

Please try to keep the thread on-topic and refrain from antagonising one another. It would be a shame to have to lock this thread.

I have a few days off work now so will try my best to share some new shots of my shallow tank using a 10-24mm Tamron, 50D and aquarium lighting. It's the cheapest UWA zoom on the market but still produces good results. Here's one from an older 'scape. tamron 10-24mm sample by George Farmer...

Thanks mate. This is just stuff I've picked up myself over the years after lots of trial and error - there's nothing to say it's the best way to do things, but it works ok for me. :thumbup:

No problem, Ed! :thumbup: 8. Take a few shots. Bracket the exposures and deliberately under and overexpose. Bracketing means shooting several shots with different exposures. For example you could take 5 shots - all different. Using your Live View take one shot that you consider looks the...

My top tip is to use the Live View function if you have it. You can determine very accurately (especially on modern DSLR LCD screens) how the shot will look. Also use the zoom buttom (x5 or x 10) to get the focusing spot-on (focus manually at a point in the foreground, typically.) This is my...

Taken over the last few years, mostly from my home tanks for PFK magazine features. I'd be interested to hear which is your favourite photo and why. There's a free bottle of TPN or TPN+ for the most interesting post! :thumbup: No particular order. Rummynose tetra Petitella georgiae by...

Some samples - http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/samples/eos5dmk3/

I don't think the 5D3 is really aimed at competing with the Nikon D800. They are very different beasts. Nikon are purely a camera manufacturer. Canon are multimedia. I think this is reflected in Canon's superior video capability, especially with this model now. I can see this being almost...

Anyone want to lend me £3,000?! I'm pleased they've not gone mental with MP. I bet the noise handling is incredible - as if the 5D2 needing improving! And better movie modes apparently. Even 6FPS so usable for wildlife and sport etc. http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/03/02 ... D-Mark-III So...

I'm thinking 5D Classic myself. Video is too much hard work!

Yes, 1.6 crop on Canon APS-C sensor. I will upgrade to full frame one day. The better dynamic range and lower noise is irresistible and I don't do much long stuff so wouldn't miss the increased focal length that crops provide. All these images are cropped by a small amount for composition, then...

Our's is thawing out now, but I made the effort to get out with my camera yesterday and took these whilst with my eldest daughter and our dog. Lincolnshire is so flat! All taken with Canon 50D and Tamron 10-24mm. snow3 by George Farmer, on Flickr snow2 by George Farmer, on Flickr snow1...

If I had the cash I'd upgrade my Canon 100mm f2.8 macro to the new L version with IS. Doubles up as an amazing portrait lens too. Relatively expensive though. You could probably pick up a used Canon 50mm f2 macro cheap, or Canon 60mm f2.8 EF-S. The Sigma 105 and Tamron 90 are good 3rd...

The 70-300 APO Sigma is widely regarded as a better lens than the 75-300 Canon.

I've heard it's a very good entry level lens. Very sharp. The biggest limiting factor is the relatively small aperture.

I'm not too familiar with Nikon gear but I'll take some educated guesses. Nikon - It's made by Nikon DX AF-S - It's designed for Nikon's cameras with cropped sensors and won't work on full-frame. Nikkor - Nikon's lens trade name. 18-55mm - focal length range. 1:3.5-5.6 - Max aperture value...

I must be getting sentimental in my old age. I just watched that again; this time in 1080p with headphones and it brought a little tear to my eye. My only criticism mate - the funky font doesn't do much for me. I think something smaller and more understated next time. But maybe it's my age...

20D to 350D is a downgrade. Well, they have the same sensor, but the 350D is a smaller plastic body with less features. The 550D is a great camera. Better than my 50D in terms of features. Also consider a used 450D or 500D. You'll likely miss the chunkier magnesium alloy body of the 20D, but...

Beautiful video mate. Stunning, in its simplicity and wonderful use of limited DoF. Some lovely inspiration for aquascapes too. I'll probably never be able to justify £600-odd on this, but I'm glad you did and look forward to seeing even better world-class aquarium videos from you. :thumbup:

Thanks. Just touch a brighter area of the screen. Only issue is that it's also the focus!

I've been really inspired by some of the great videos on UKAPS, especially by Mark. Unfortunately I can't afford a new camera so I used my iPhone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iphE1fGS0WU&sns=em

I love Flickr. Ticks lots of boxes, especially as a networking and marketing tool.

My best ever bird shot. golden eagle by George Farmer, on Flickr

Nice one. You'll be able get some great images. The nifty fifty is a great lens for full tank shots!

Sure, I've tried the light box and other flash techniques but the results I get from tank lights is usually good enough for me. To light my 60cm for more important shots I will use a 6 x 39w T5 luminaire, literally just sat on top of the tank. It works really well. What camera do you have?

Hi, I fully recommend learning the fundamental principles of photography so you can get the most from your DSLR. This will stand you in good stead for any subject matter, be it an aquarium or a fast moving bird. Learning the relationship between aperture, shutter speed and ISO is a good start...

Nice one!

I'll start - All taken with my iPhone 4 and processed using Camera+ app. Kitchen tank photo shoot by George Farmer, on Flickr flo1 by George Farmer, on Flickr PFK article by George Farmer, on Flickr

sagittaria flower by George Farmer, on Flickr

Thanks. I have friends with both models, but it's a shame they live too far away to easily borrow their kit. Hiring is an excellent idea that I overlooked. Thanks!

Hi all, I'm considering upgrading my 50D to a model that has video. I'm aware of the difference in most specs between the 7D and 5D Mk2, but not sure about video. Of course, Mark Evans has produced superb results using his 5D2, but is the 7D far behind? Does the full-frame sensor make much...

You may be interested my favourite photography forum - http://photography-on-the.net/forum/ There's some great pinned threads, some ideal for beginners.

That's the one. Most of these photos were taken it, although mine was non-OS - http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgefarm ... 770878506/

Yes mate. I created a thread here about it. viewtopic.php?f=56&t=16154&start=0 I originally thought it was an Echinodorus flower.

That's it. Google it for loads of reviews, and best prices. It's cheap built but the optics are wonderful for the price. For a decent general purpose zoom I really rate the Sigma 17-70 OS. It has a low minimum focusing distance so so makes it great for macro photography. Really sharp and...

It is a wonderful plant. It is also a brute and may need taming. My biggest leaves reached over 80cm long and 4cm wide. You should get flowers soon too... Its red colouration picks out the hints of red in the petrified wood nicely.

Both cameras are more than sufficient to take the kind of images your see on here. The 500D is the same technology as my 50D, basically wrapped in a smaller plastic body but with video. Having the benefit of hindsight I would personally go for the cheapest 500 or 550D body-only you can find...

Looks good to me! Well done. Play with the camera in manual mode and note the influence each setting has on one another. For instance, if you increase your f/stop by one stop i.e. from f3.5 to f/4 then you'll need to slow the shutter speed by one stop i.e. 1/60, or increase the ISO by one...

:lol: No kidding! For me this really would be living the dream.

I met up with Chris Lukhaup recently, the shrimp legend. We had a nice chat and he showed me some mindblowing photos of some recent expeditions with Stefan Hummel (Dennerle's plant hunter). They invited Jeremy Gay (PFK editor) and me onto an exped next year. I was literally speechless...

Re: Three Rare bird's Incredible mate. :thumbup:

Anyone entering this year? Last year's winning entry was taken with a point and shoot, so there's no excuse! :lol: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/tv/countryfi ... 1rules.pdf

I don't think all photography should be turned into art, and there many cases for some photographs to accurately represent the subject as closely as possible. However, if you put the word, "Aquascape" before "Photography" in your statement...

Should do, Tom. You're probably thinking of the Sigma 10-20mm. Definitely!

Photography is the primary medium that allows us to share aquascaping with the online community, and beyond. How important is photographing your aquascape to you? If it's not important, why not? If it is important, why?

In fact, I remember him mentioning the use of ultra-wide angle photography in this 'scape, that actually won Best of Show in the AGA 2008. I also scored this higher than any other 'scape, but not just because it's a great photo...

That was going to be my third question - what filters?! Nice one mate. Lovely shots of a beautiful part of the world. :thumbup:

Very nice, Ben. :thumbup: Are these HDR? What lens mate?

Hi Nick Good to see you on UKAPS again. Although the use of ADA products in the IAPLC contest is probably beyond the scope of this thread, I think it's worth clarifying matters. You do not need to use ADA products to 'be considered for the win'. I'm not sure where you've heard this rather...

That's interesting. 50mm with what size film/sensor?

What do you mean exactly? How do you propose the line is sharpened? This is a very interesting discussion. :thumbup:

I think we all can agree on that. FYI I use 50mm for my contest photos. Grade B at A-Level Photography? You're better qualified than me... Sorry, Ian. I missed the first few posts in all the excitement! :) Tamron, Sigma and Tokina will have lenses in their line-ups that fit most DSLRs...

How do you feel about exaggerating these aspects, using UWA, if they already exist (like the three examples shown)? Can you appreciate the increased sense of depth at all, or not? :)