Pond life photography

[Jon]

WW one of the best tips I had was to construct a small "tank" that was about only 2-3cm thick, the height and width you can make to suit yourself. Then behind this put another tank of any dimension it doesn't really matter. In the small front tank put filtered pond water, so it is"clean". The rear tank may contain slightly clouded water along with plants and goodness knows what else. To photograph your subject put it in the small tank with the bigger tank directly behind, i.e. immediately behind to ensure no reflections etc.
When photographing your subject you may require flash used from above or the side but trial and error will show you how to avoid reflections. Generally speaking you will need the camera lens fairly close to the foremost tank and your light source behind the front element of the lens.
NB
when preparing the small tank you will have to let the water reach ambient temp and possibly dislodge any bubbles before you start taking any photos.. May all sound a bit complicated at first but really it is quite easy.
When you have mastered this you may want to consider dark ground illumination when photographing various larvae, that is a whole new venture but again it doesn't have to be too tricky!!
Hope this helps
Jon

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Jon

WW one of the best tips I had was to construct a small "tank" that was about only 2-3cm thick, the height and width you can make to suit yourself. Then behind this put another tank of any dimension it doesn't really matter. In the small front tank put filtered pond water, so it is"clean". The rear tank may contain slightly clouded water along with plants and goodness knows what else. To photograph your subject put it in the small tank with the bigger tank directly behind, i.e. immediately behind to ensure no reflections etc.
When photographing your subject you may require flash used from above or the side but trial and error will show you how to avoid reflections. Generally speaking you will need the camera lens fairly close to the foremost tank and your light source behind the front element of the lens.
NB
when preparing the small tank you will have to let the water reach ambient temp and possibly dislodge any bubbles before you start taking any photos.. May all sound a bit complicated at first but really it is quite easy.
When you have mastered this you may want to consider dark ground illumination when photographing various larvae, that is a whole new venture but again it doesn't have to be too tricky!!
Hope this helps
Jon

That sounds a really good idea Jon. My only problem would be where to get tanks like that, or can you purchase them? Something like that would be great when I'm field teaching.I think I'll have a google and put the idea to my boss. Perhaps then my employers will foot the bill.
Thanks for that Jon-very helpful and it's got me thinking.

[Jon]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

That sounds a really good idea Jon. My only problem would be where to get tanks like that, or can you purchase them? Something like that would be great when I'm field teaching.I think I'll have a google and put the idea to my boss. Perhaps then my employers will foot the bill.
Thanks for that Jon-very helpful and it's got me thinking.

WW
I think there are commercially available kits for tank construction. Try pet shops or aquarist's supplies?
I used to work in a pathology laboratory in years gone by and I constructed a small tank out of pieces of glass that were intented for examination of slices of brain. The glass was quite thin as it was intended for microscopy, I am guessing about 3mm thick and the size would have been anthing up to about - (not sure it was a long time ago!) say one hemisphere of a brain if that helps! ?? 20x15cm or so. The glue or sealant used was a bit like a transparent bath sealant The important thing was to make sure all surfaces were very clean and well rinsed free of detergent before filling with the pond water. (The rear tank of course does not have to be quite so clean) Good luck!
Jon

[nightshade]

I made up some tiny(various sizes)tanks some with plate glass from bathroom shelves and many more from glass off cuts I got from a fish tank maker and a local glass cutter
these were easily glued together with Dow Corning Aquaria sealant 2939207 (£6)
and can be made for specific jobs,so that your subject cannot swim too far away
Obviously you must be aware of oxygen levels for Fish etc. and not keep them in small
quantities of water for too long

[richardkm]

for some pics of newts that I needed for a magazine article, I bought a small tank from the local aquarium shop, then made a painted background that would slide vertically into the tank. As the newt came to the front of the tank, I slid the background down to restrict the distance away from the camera that the newt could swim. I lit from above, if I remember correctly.

[Wild-Woman]

That's a really nice capture. Did you use flitered pond water so the murkiness wasn't there?

[richardkm]

No, I used filtered tap water. I have a activated charcoal filter system in my darkroom water supply. I transported the newt from a friend's pond to home and took the photos there, then returned the newt all in a few hours.

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by richardkm

No, I used filtered tap water. I have a activated charcoal filter system in my darkroom water supply. I transported the newt from a friend's pond to home and took the photos there, then returned the newt all in a few hours.

Ah right. Well it paid off because it's nice to see the newt's detail without the debris.
Have you tried that system with invertebrates?