Fish experiment

[Luenny]

Hi all,
I am trying to take fish photos in a new way to show more about the fish than just what it looks like. Tell me what you think.

This one is a wild fighting fish. I want to show how fierce this guy is. But fighting fish is a bit on the small size so I thought I took something to make it look bigger and more terrifying.

[zac08]

Macrostoma??

Nice mouthbrooder, cheek colours are nice too...

[Luenny]

Thanks Michael. I was hoping more people would reply to see what are their thoughts. This is something different from the way people usually take fish pictures (which is usually brighter and usually side view). I was hoping to do something different and see what people think.

[zac08]

Originally Posted by Luenny Thanks Michael. I was hoping more people would reply to see what are their thoughts. This is something different from the way people usually take fish pictures (which is usually brighter and usually side view). I was hoping to do something different and see what people think.

The totally different one would be a TOP down shot..

[slaam]

sidelighting doesn't work for this shot i feel. i keep thinking where's the other fin?
haha
face up can be nice for fierce looking fishes..

[Luenny]

Face up lighting? Face up as in putting the flash from below the fish?

[benny]

Hi Luenny,

I think there is too much space around the subject. A tighter crop will make it a lot more impactful. Perhaps something like this..



Cheers,

[zac08]

Originally Posted by benny Hi Luenny, I think there is too much space around the subject. A tighter crop will make it a lot more impactful. Perhaps something like this.. Cheers,

How many flashes did u use for this shot? 2 or 3?

[benny]

Originally Posted by zac08 How many flashes did u use for this shot? 2 or 3?

Just one. Shot the picture in a fish shop too, just like Luenny.

Here's the rest if you are interested.

Cheers,

[Luenny]

For me, what I was trying to achieve is the effect that it is coming out from darkness - just like a monster in a horror movie. So I need to show a bit of the surronding. A tighter crop will not give that effect anymore. That's what I feel anyway.

[DeSwitch]

I'm not into aquatic photography but as mention, the missing fin does makes the fish look wierd. Maybe you could clone it to the other side. One more thing is that the fish is too centered.

[Luenny]

Hi all,
Thanks for all the comments here. I really hope to try out something new someday with your comments in mind. That said, please keep your comments coming in cause we're all here to learn - maybe you're not but I certainly am - and I hope that with your comments (agree or not) I can perfect a shot like this someday. Don't worry, I intend to shoot the same kind of shot again and again (maybe with different subject) with your comments and see how I can produce one that looks good. Let's all see how it goes. You can try the same kind of shoot and post your pic here to like what Benny did. Don't have to be the same subject.

I agree with Slaam and DeSwitch and the missing fin does make it look a bit wierd. I will take that into consideration next time. And as for the fish being centered, I'll see what I can do next time.

As for Benny and Michael's comment, I'll keep that in mind and will try other closer crop and top down one next time and see how it goes.

I was also thinking about it for a while and I think I figure out why it doesn't look as scary as it is in those monster movies. One thing I can think of is the shadows. I think if there were more distinct shadow that show the part of the fish is really in the darkness, it will give an impression on it coming out from darkness right? What do you guys think? Will it work?

[slaam]

Originally Posted by Luenny Face up lighting? Face up as in putting the flash from below the fish?

oh haha i mean to say like a close up frontal shot of the fish. sorry wasn't clear.

dun bang yourself about the fin.
knowing fishes they usually alternate the fins to hover
unless the fish is charging at u or backing away u prob wont see two fins at once..

[Luenny]

I know it's a bit hard to show the other fin especially when the light is from the other side. Maybe should move the light source a bit higher but still a bit to one side. That can get the fin as well as create the effect of roundness. I hate to shoot the light from the front cause it will cause the fish to look flat. Well, we'll see what I can do if I have the chance to shoot the fish again. Thanks.

[chvictor]

Well! I supposed fellow members had given some good suggestions to take better shots.
I personally feel that when showcasing your photo, little details also count. I've seen alot of very good photos are being smudged by ulgy placement of watermarks or signatures.
You can reduce the size of your signature and try to put it away from the main subject.


chvictor(Adobe Certified Expert) | Photoshop Instructor | 98162062

[slaam]

Originally Posted by chvictor Well! I supposed fellow members had given some good suggestions to take better shots. I personally feel that when showcasing your photo, little details also count. I've seen alot of very good photos are being smudged by ulgy placement of watermarks or signatures. You can reduce the size of your signature and try to put it away from the main subject. chvictor(Adobe Certified Expert) | Photoshop Instructor | 98162062

wow abit OT but how do u get the certification?
how long and how much?

[Morphis]

Originally Posted by benny Hi Luenny, I think there is too much space around the subject. A tighter crop will make it a lot more impactful. Perhaps something like this.. Cheers,

Geart Angle, Details & even Colour too!! Swweee!!

[longkanghee]

nice nice nice... how u shoot ur macrostoma one? i cant seem to get my palli colours rite on the cheek issit the problem with my flash or wad? or i relli need an external flash to achieve tat result?

[Luenny]

Hi guys,
Ok, understood the part about the watermark. As for the color of marcostoma, I set my camera settings to give vivid colors. I feel colors on the cheek isn't a problem because some of them has really red cheeks. Just get the lightings right and the color should come out. Oh yeah, haven't taken other shots like that yet so nothing to show yet. Been sick for a while and was busy producing a lot of junk photos. Darn! My skills really need to improve.

[mervin]

I miss my Macs.......