photographing koi

[michael_w]

Hi guys

Has anybody got any tips for getting better pictures of koi when bowled up, using a normal digital camera??

thanks
michael

[keokoi]

Michael, if you are talking about a normal point and shoot camera then yes it can be done. But requires a bit more patience and setting up.. First of all a round bowl always works the worst. The measuring tub works best as the koi always goes back and forth giving is less of a chance to do laps round and a round. If you got a rectangular tub then great! then if not then round will do.

Fill the tub up with water at least 2 inches paste the tail fin. What we are trying to do it have the koi no swim up and down but also not disturbing the top of the water so it doesn't give a wrinkle effect. In doing so its best to have a friend around to keep an eye on the jumper...

Back to the camera.. If there is anyway you can attatch a polarizing filter to your camera then by all means do so. If you cannot then hold one in front of it. This will eliminate the glare off the water.. Which leads us into the next phase. The tub must be put under a "consistent" amount of shade so the sun is not bouncing of of it. I suggest under a patio as long as it is shaded. also to take the picture during dusk and or dawn times of the day. The suns light is not as strong and your flash unit will take care of the lighting situation..

So say your set up now and ready point and shoot. put the koi in the tub. Pop all the bubbles and such on top of surface of water. Try to clean any of the debris in the water as well. If you got a friend or spouse then have them near the tub. When the koi gets stuck on the sides then have em direct the koi away from tub.

Be patient and try not to move so much let the koi calm down and also anticipate the koi as it swims towards you. I always like to this of the koi gliding with its wings spread out and tail perfectly straight. Take the shot at around approximate 45 degree angle. some koi do better a little above depending on the pattern.

If ya got the Pounds then spread for a Digital SLR camera. Once you do you will eliminate many headaches.

Many more tricks to taking photos and I just touched on a few that popped up in my head..


Joe

[michael_w]

Thanks Joe, i will give it a go this afternoon, then hopefully i will have some pics of my small dainichi showa's and kohaku's to post for comments, good or bad.

thanks again
Michael

[keokoi]

Welcome and good luck and look forward to pics...

Joe

[michael_w]

Can somebody help me please, I want to post six pictures but when i upload them it says the file size is too big and i dont know how to resize them or make them into thumbnails, any ideas?

thanks
michael

[keokoi]

Michael W asked me to post these...

I gotta say Not bad.. Some light peeked thorugh one of the shots but not bad..

[Mike T]

Michael:

We had the same problem... Not sure what software you use but we use Kodak EasyShare... When we click on the picture we get a full view picture with an "Edit Picture" icon... We go to edit, then click on save as... In the save as window you can choose to save as at 100, 75, 50 and 25%... we choose 50% and save to desktop... then upload the pic from there with no problem...

Hope this helps...

Aloha! Mike T

[michael_w]

thanks to keokoi for posting the pics

They are from dainichi and are all less than a year old, hoping to hear peoples comments good or bad.

thanks mike, i will give it a go

[dick benbow]

first off, one of my favorite koi kichii's from the Uk lives in cardif...Mark Cooper.

A couple of the showa look pretty good. Keep in mind that it could be up to 8 yrs to really know what you got so don't be in a hurry to off anything.

The kohaku has nice even beni, just could use more of a pattern. Known as Omoyo, this pattern can often indicate an opportunity to grow big and when all the shashi cleans up it's all at once instead of with stepped patterns which do so one step at a time.

cheers

[Mike Mazur]

I have found that a polarizing filter helps alot, takes that glare off the surface of the water, if you are lucky enough to have a camera that allows the use of external filters I would say this one is a must have. note that when you use these you can twist them to adjust what angle of glare is reduced. ha, guess then I would have to cast a second vote to this advice as I read the above posts more closely.