Low-key photo suggestions for fish?

Question

I would like to ask for some inputs on how I can achieve similar low-key results for a fish:

Current setup:

1. Small aquarium 30 x 15 x 15 cms (LBH)
2. The sides and the back of the aquarium are covered by a black muslin cloth.
3. The LED no longer has cardboard roll on it. I was using this to cut reflections, but it really reduced my working space. The LED helps me focus and provides continuous light.

Question: How do I implement the inverse square law here given the small space? I don't understand how to bring the flash closer to the fish than to the background.

Thank you for reading the complete post.

Goal:

1. Perfectly and FULLY illuminated subject with no part lost to shadows.
2. Pitch-black background.

Answer 1

Ok, let us separate this into 2 parts.

I. The inverse square law.

In this case is the relationship between your light and your first object (1) versus the light and the background (2). The background, not the rear glass of the fish tank.

But this would apply in the case you are actually illuminating the background with the same light, which in this case you are not doing.

So the basic idea is that you should put a black cloth away from the fish tank.

Top view:

II. Basic light and fish tank setup

I would first try to use only a vegetal paper on the top of the fish tank (A) and a piece of aluminum foil on the bottom (B). Actually, I think some spill on the sides can work to reduce the shadows. Try putting some white boards on the sides (C).

Lateral and top view:

Unwanted reflections or stains?

If you see some unwanted reflections I would prepare a special softbox with a grid:

Take your flash and put some distance from a sheet of vegetal paper (D) and prepare a cardboard rectangle painted in black on the inside (E).

This way you will have a soft diffused light but with a protection of some extra spill but it is important that the protection is after the diffuser.

You basically want to protect the front and the black glass, mainly to avoid illuminating some stains on the glass (F).

Put the camera away from any light so you do not reflect it on the glass.

If you see the reflection of the fish on the rear glass you could try inclining the fish tank a bit so the reflection moves away.

A grid is normally this: https://www.google.com/search?q=softbox+grid, In this case, is just simply a box of cardboard, similar to what you used on your led. The difference is that the grid goes after a diffuser.

Answer 2

This image appears to use a single wide diffuse light source above and slightly forward of the subject with a white reflecting card below the lens, so as to not show in the shot, tilted slightly toward the subject to fill the shadow area under the subject. You might have to "play" a bit to find the optimal location and angle. But, that's what it's all about. : )

If you feel the flash would stress the subject use normal lighting. You don't seem to require much depth of field to record so you can open up your aperture a bit to accommodate it.

I think that darkening the room would make the flash comparatively more apparent to the subject. A normally lit room should be fine with a darkground.

EDIT: The darkest backgrounds cannot be made using dark material such as card or cloth. The secret is to use nothing. Construct or find a box with a black interior. Cut a hole in the box that will be the background. Light that enters the box will not escape and there can be no reflections from a hole. Position the lens opposite the hole so that you photograph the fish when positioned in front of the black "hole" background. This is one way to get a truly black background for your subject.

Off topic: I think you are truly considerate to take account and responsibility for the stress of the subject caused by pursuing your interest. I don't think many have this kind of a personality.

Answer 3

One thing that may help is to move the background farther back so that avoid having any flash spill onto it. There's no reason that the background needs to be right up against the tank, although you may need to make it larger if you move it farther away.

Answer 4

1. Take the fish out of the aquarium using a specimen container or bag. This will improve flexibility when positioning the fish relative to the background and the lights. Positioning, lighting, and exposure can be established with the specimen container prior to placing fish in it to reduce stress on the fish. A fish mannequin [perhaps a fishing lure] placed in the specimen container may aid in setup. The constrained dimensions of the specimen container will increase the likelihood of the fish appearing within the camera's image frame.

2. In post processing set the black point to the background shade of gray. Adjust gray point and white point if necessary.

Answer 5

The issue appears to be with the distance from your background and the lighting sources and direction(s). I found this article on photographing fish:

Oddly, the article doesn't say who wrote it. Scroll about 3/4 of the way down the example images are very good. The article also offers tips such as using aluminum foil for additional reflection.

Consider PRO STUDIO LIGHTS - Adding substantially more lumens with professional studio lights would brighten the fish, the auto-focus system would work faster and in theory, less stress on the fish.

Answer 6

Maybe you can have a piece of black cloth / cardboard on the inside of the back of the fishtank, so you can avoid reflections from the back glass wall of the aquarium?