We photograph the inhabitants of aquariums and terrariums
We photograph the inhabitants of aquariums and terrariums
If open-air enclosures do not create any special difficulties for photographers, then certain restrictions are imposed on indoor shooting. For example, in aquariums or terrariums, in order to avoid injury to animals, photography is allowed only without a flash. We have accumulated a large amount of recommendations on photography techniques, both with digital compacts and DSLRs with interchangeable lenses. If you think that these recommendations are not for you, then this may well be the case, but an inexperienced amateur photographer will probably make the most common mistakes if he does not take into account some of the nuances.
Let's discuss some of them:
First of all, slowly assess the situation. If there are moving animals in front of you, then set your camera to short shutter speeds; if these are slow bumpkins, then it makes sense to increase the shutter speed. It is difficult to recommend exact parameters, because everything depends on the specific type of camera, the presence of a stabilizer, the focal length of the lens, etc. A classic and very approximate method of how to find out the maximum shutter speed, provided that the shutter speed does not ruin the frame, is to divide one by the focal length of a particular lens. For example, for a 50 mm lens the maximum shutter speed will be 1/50, but for dynamic, moving objects this value must be increased. Modern stabilizers can provide you with a margin of about 1-2 steps.
Small children love to run their fingers on the glass; it is especially unpleasant when they do this after picking their nose or eating fatty foods or ice cream.
Therefore, first evaluate the glass through which you will be shooting for dirty spots and choose the cleanest place. As a last resort, use a cloth for wiping glass surfaces, which can be purchased at a photo store. Or use a lenspen, the main thing is that the aquarium workers do not mind. For shooting, it is best to use ISO values of about 400, gradually reducing it, which will have a positive effect on the quality of the image.
It should be remembered that in automatic mode the camera likes to arbitrarily increase the ISO, sometimes to catastrophic values. It is best to use wide-angle lenses to reduce hand movement during long exposures.
If you are the owner of a compact camera, turn on the image stabilizer, and do not forget to turn off the flash. If possible, equip your lens with a polarizing filter to help minimize glare from reflected light.
Get as close to the glass as possible, which will also help avoid glare on the glass surface, due to the fact that you will cover the light from surrounding light sources with your shadow. Although, in some cases, reflections can serve as some artistic addition.
An undeniably useful accessory is a lens hood, because it covers the lens from side light, and with its help the photographer can rest the camera against the glass.
This makes it possible to shoot at long shutter speeds, especially still or slow-moving animals. Long shutter speeds allow you to use low ISO and aperture values to achieve maximum depth of field. It goes without saying that the hood should be rigid and not homemade. The ban on flash photography is more of a plus than a minus. Typically, lighting in tanks with animals is well-designed and thoughtful, so you won’t need to be distracted by thoughts about how to fill the shadows correctly and which side to illuminate from. If you are filming at home, then of course you will have to tinker with the light. Two light sources give a good result, one of them illuminates the aquarium with soft backlight (placed behind and slightly above the tank with animals), and the second with upper side light. The general diffused light should be daylight. Before shooting, set up some neutral background behind the aquarium and clean the glass first.
We hope that our fairly simple tips will make your photographic experiments more effective!
Photographing the inhabitants of aquariums and terrariums
Aquariums, especially modern ones with huge tanks, and terrariums are great places for photography. Even if you don’t have such beauty at home (I mean a real aquarium, and not a screensaver with swimming fish on the monitor), you can always go to a zoo or aquarium and take beautiful shots. And recently it has become popular to make spacious enclosures for animals, where instead of bars there is durable glass.
True, if outdoor enclosures do not create difficulties for amateur photographers, then shooting indoors requires a certain skill, because the conditions are a little specific. For example, in aquariums and terrariums, only photography without flash is usually allowed (so as not to injure the animals). There are many recommendations for shooting techniques in such conditions, both with compact cameras and SLR cameras with interchangeable lenses. If you think that these recommendations will not be useful to you, then most likely it is so. But for an inexperienced amateur photographer, they can be useful, and before going to the zoo it would be a good idea to read them, so as not to “reinvent the wheel.”
Here are some of them:
1) Take your time, assess the situation first. If these are moving animals, then use low shutter speeds; if they are slow, then it makes sense to increase the shutter speed. It is difficult to determine exact values, because it depends on the characteristics of a particular camera, the presence of a stabilizer in it, the focal length of the lens, etc. A very old and very approximate way to find out the maximum shutter speed at which hand shake will not blur the frame is to divide one by the focal length of the lens. So for a 50 mm lens the maximum shutter speed will be 1/50. For dynamic objects, of course, you will have to increase this value. Modern stabilizers can give you a margin of 1-2 steps.
2) Children love to run their fingers on the glass. It is especially unpleasant when they do this after picking their nose or eating fatty foods. Try to first look at the glass through which you will be shooting to choose the cleanest place. In extreme cases, you can use a special cloth for wiping optical surfaces, which you can buy at a photo store. Alternatively, you can use lenspen. The main thing is that the aquarium workers do not punish you for cleaning things up.
3) Shoot, preferably, at ISO values around 400, reducing this value if possible (thereby improving the quality of the photo). Here you should remember that with automatic settings, the camera likes to increase the ISO arbitrarily, sometimes even to catastrophic values.
4) It is advisable to use wide-angle lenses to reduce the effect of shake during long exposures. For compact cameras - turn on the stabilizer (remember to turn off the flash).
5) If possible, screw a polarizing filter onto the lens; this will help minimize the influence of light reflected from the glass.
6) Get as close to the glass as possible to avoid glare by blocking the light from the tanks behind you with your shadow. Although, sometimes reflections from glass can create an additional artistic effect.
7) A very useful accessory is a lens hood, which not only protects the lens from unnecessary glare, but also allows the photographer to fix the camera by lightly resting it on the glass. This way you can take very long exposures, especially of still animals (such as amphibians). Long shutter speeds allow you to use low ISOs and small apertures to increase depth of field. The hood, of course, should be rigid, and not homemade, as, for example, here.
8) The ban on using flash is more of a plus than a minus. After all, lighting in tanks is usually well designed and thought out, so you don’t have to worry about how best to fill the shadows or which side to illuminate. If you photograph at home, you will have to tinker with the light. Two lighting sources give a good result: one illuminates the aquarium with backlight (placed behind and above the aquarium), the other with upper side light. It is assumed that ordinary daylight is present in the room as general diffused light. It is advisable to install some kind of neutral background at the back of the aquarium and first clean the glass and change the water to clean water.
We hope that these simple tips will help you achieve good results. Experiment more!
The most common inhabitants of the terrarium
About the reptiles in your apartment
There is no cobra
that is affectionate and kind.
Even a well-fed cobra
is very poisonous
Crested newt (Triturus cristatus)
A home terrarium is more of an alternative to an aquarium than to a dog or cat. By choosing an animal that suits you, you can create good conditions not only for it, but also enliven the interior of your home, creating a cozy corner of nature right in your city apartment. However, before you chase bright exotics, evaluate your capabilities and skills, because reptiles and amphibians require a special approach, and despite their “coldness” they need the care and attention of the owner. And if you are seriously interested in “reptiles,” then you will definitely need special literature on terrarium science, fortunately, there is currently no shortage of it.
According to the conditions of keeping, animals can be divided into less and more whimsical. If you are an inexperienced terrariumist, then starting with tropical snakes that require special temperature and humidity conditions would be very stupid. And among the inhabitants of temperate latitudes there are many curious and easy-to-keep animals that will bring you a lot of pleasure. You should also give up the idea of keeping poisonous animals at home.
The most common inhabitant of aquatic terrariums is the crested newt (Triturus cristatus). Crested newts live almost throughout the entire territory of the European part of Russia, so it can be caught in any pond. Along with the crested newt, you may also come across its brother, the common newt (Triturus vulgaris.) Animals are kept at a water temperature of 18-22 C, and in winter they are cooled to 4-6 C. Although they can withstand temperatures as low as zero degrees, there is no need to experiment. You can do without wintering; it is rather needed as a stimulation for reproduction.
At a temperature of 10-12 degrees, after some time the males dress in mating plumage - a beautiful, attention-grabbing crest and bright orange-brown sides. After the mating ritual, the male lays a spermatophore, which the female picks up with her cloaca lips and after some time lays eggs, attaching them to the leaves of aquatic plants. The larvae of newts, like many other tailed amphibians, before metamorphosis are completely different from adult individuals and there are cases when they were described as independent species. Newts feed on small invertebrates, and in captivity they can be fed small bloodworms. With proper care, the crested newt can live up to 10-12 years. And ordinary up to 27.
Common tree frog (Hyla arborea)
Another common species of our fauna is the common tree frog (Hyla arborea), which is also often found in amateur terrariums. These are nocturnal arboreal animals and the terrarium should be equipped so that the tree frog feels as if it were in its native forest. For this, it is better to use a vertical type terrarium, i.e. one whose height is greater than its width. It would be nice to place branches and plants there that can tolerate shade and high air humidity (bromeliads, philodendrons, arrowroot, ficus, etc.)
The optimal air temperature in a terrarium with tree frogs is 22C. During the hibernation period in October, the temperature is gradually reduced to 10C. Wintering lasts until April, at this time of year tree frogs emerge from it in the wild. If your goal is not the reproduction of animals, then wintering can be neglected, however, if the biological rhythm is disrupted, the life expectancy of animals can be significantly reduced. The food for tree frogs and other tree frogs are small invertebrates - insect larvae, worms.
If you prefer reptiles, then you should pay attention to land turtles. The Central Asian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldi) is probably the most common reptile kept at home.
You will not have problems with feed. Turtles are herbivores and thrive on cabbage, carrots and fruits. Do not forget that turtles are inhabitants of insolated spaces and need irradiation with quartz. This will save them from disturbances in the molting process, deformation of limbs, and modification of the shell.
Exotic lovers can be advised to get a green iguana (Iguana iguana) . With good care, the extravagant American female grows quickly and, taking into account the length of the tail, reaches two meters. Therefore, the terrarium should be quite spacious. The iguana also needs to be provided with tree branches and a heating lamp. It is advisable that the lamp has a timer and a temperature sensor so that the animal does not overheat and get burned. The humidity in the terrarium should be maintained at 50-70%, and, in addition, the iguana needs a bath of water - it drinks from it and bathes in it. The diet of iguanas should be based on green parts of plants - leaves of dandelions, carrots, cabbage, spinach, parsley. Chopped vegetables can also be added: carrots, green beans, green peppers, peas. The amount of fruit on the menu should be limited: iguanas love them so much that they neglect more healthy and necessary food.
If you don’t have the opportunity to keep a large lizard, it doesn’t matter! You can find smaller ones too! One of the most common species in our country is the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) . Males of this species are noticeably larger than females and more varied in color - from plain bright green to gray with a brown pattern on the back. Females are usually brown with a less pronounced pattern. For the sanding lizard, a small horizontal terrarium with soil made of sand and gravel with the addition of moss and leaves is suitable.
In addition, lizards need shelter. Clay shards or pieces of tiles are quite suitable for this. The temperature regime is 25-30C during the day and about 20C at night. The sand lizard feeds on small invertebrates. In captivity, mealworms and feeder cockroaches are common food.
Common grass snake (Natrix natrix)
Snakes are not “wet, slippery and nasty worms” at all, but beautiful and graceful animals that are also worth paying attention to if you are interested in terrariums. Common in our latitudes, the grass snake (Natrix natrix) is often found in amateur terrariums, but remember that it is listed in the Red Book of the Leningrad Region. When kept in captivity, snakes require a spacious horizontal terrarium with soil that retains moisture well. Shelters and a pool are required in the terrarium.
The lighting is quite powerful, the temperature during the day is not lower than 24C, and at night about 18C. The main food is frogs. There is an opinion that snakes should be fed rarely. Yes, this is true for some species, but snakes need feeding 2-3 times a week. If the wintering regime is observed, snakes easily reproduce in captivity, and their eggs can withstand fairly strong temperature fluctuations (from 10 to 55C).
Despite the increased popularity of all kinds of exotic animals (which should include domestic reptiles), it should be remembered that:
1. Reptiles, like all other living beings, are susceptible to diseases and not every veterinarian will undertake their treatment.
2. If for one reason or another you can no longer keep an animal at home, then not all of them can simply be released into the forest.
3. Great attention should be paid to the design of the terrarium: the composition of the soil, temperature conditions, lighting and shelters should be as close as possible to natural ones.
Suitable food for your animals can be found in pet stores or at the Bird Market, or you can start breeding cockroaches or crickets yourself.
7 best terrariums
*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.
Terrariums are plastic or glass, specially equipped containers in which reptiles and amphibians can be kept. Sometimes, the terrarium is partially filled with water in order to raise snakes, toads, turtles and other exotic inhabitants of water bodies. Designers use aquaterrariums to plant and care for tropical plants. And in some cases, terrariums become home to several types of pets at once. In order to create optimal living conditions for animals, taking into account the peculiarities of their maintenance, it is necessary to competently approach the choice of terrarium.
How to choose a terrarium
Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of all kinds of terrariums that allow you to recreate the conditions of a savannah, swampy area or rain forest, depending on the habitat conditions to which exotic inhabitants are accustomed. We present a rating of the most popular terrarium models that have earned the greatest popularity among buyers.
Rating of the best terrariums
| Nomination | place | Name of product | price |
| Rating of the best terrariums | 1 | Lucky Reptile Aqua-Tarrium | 39980 ₽ |
| 2 | Exo Terra 90x45x45cm | 21054 ₽ | |
| 3 | Repti Zoo 0119RK | 19110 ₽ | |
| 4 | MEIJING 51x35x22cm | 5890 ₽ | |
| 5 | Aquatlantis TORTUM for turtles | 2502 ₽ | |
| 6 | AquaEl 600x300x300 | 6290 ₽ | |
| 7 | Hagen ExoTerra Natural Terrarium Mini Wide | 4578 ₽ |
Lucky Reptile Aqua-Tarrium, 73.5 x 55 x 75
Particularly successful, in our opinion, is the Aqua-Tarrium terrarium from Lucky Reptile, which takes first place in our rating. It can contain turtles, water snakes and fish, toads and even crabs. It is also possible to keep reptiles and fish together. This terrarium can also be used for growing tropical plants.
It is noteworthy that Aqua-Tarrium is divided into two zones - a swimming zone and a so-called “dry” rest zone. A specially designed paludarium-florarium allows you to recreate not only the tropics for pets, but also arrange a pond with a depth of up to 20 cm. After long water procedures, animals will be able to receive a dose of ultraviolet radiation in a specially equipped area. Aqua-Tarrium has flow ventilation and a reliable automatic lock. If you need to install additional equipment, you can remove the top cover.
Manufacturer: Germany. Dimensions: 73.5 cm x 55 cm x 75 cm (W x D x H). Available in black and white. Cost: from 35,000 rub.
Advantages
- Terrarium with aqua zone;
- Allows you to keep reptiles and grow plants;
- Easy access to filter maintenance and cleaning;
- Insulated back panel to prevent heat loss;
- Durable lock;
- Equipped with a heat and ultraviolet generator;
- Allows you to keep fish and reptiles together.
Flaws
- High price.
Exo Terra with doors, cover mesh and background 90x45x45
On the second stage we placed a terrarium from the manufacturer Exo Terra, developed by European herpetologists. Designed for home keeping of amphibians and reptiles. Made of thick-walled glass, the background is decorated in the form of natural stone.
To facilitate access to the inner chamber, the top cover is removed and the front doors are opened. A special locking system allows the doors to be opened separately to prevent animals from escaping. And the patented ventilation system will create an optimal microclimate in the terrarium. By simulating a natural background, animals will be able to feel in their natural environment.
The mesh lid creates excellent ventilation, allowing ultraviolet and infrared radiation to penetrate inside. At the back there are holes for wires where you can install heating stones, meters or waterfalls. The bottom panel is equipped with legs, making it possible to connect a heating element. The high glass edge at the front allows for a thicker layer of substrate for burrowing animals or creating a waterfall.
Dimensions: 90x45x45cm. Weight: 25 kg. Manufacturer: Canada. Cost: from 20,000 rub.
Advantages
- Increased bottom area;
- Locks on doors;
- Thoughtful ventilation;
- Opening doors;
- Mesh on the lid for ventilation;
- Walls made of silicate glass;
- Decorative background.
Flaws
- High price.
Repti Zoo 0119RK prefabricated, 900*450*450mm
The terrarium from the Chinese manufacturer Repti Zoo ranks third in the Expertology rating. This model is universal and suitable for keeping almost all types of amphibians and reptiles, as well as some subspecies of aquatic turtles.
The cover and ventilation wall (side) are made of metal micro-mesh, and the adjustable opening can be used to connect additional equipment. The terrarium from Repti Zoo has a sealed aqua tray.
Country of origin: China. Dimensions: 91.4 x 45.7 x 45.7 cm. Materials of manufacture: plastic, metal, glass. Price: from 15,000 rub.
Advantages
- Hinged convenient doors;
- Terrarium made of durable silicate glass;
- There is a hole for connecting additional equipment;
- Ventilated side and top panel;
- The prefabricated model is convenient for transportation and storage;
- Aqua pallet.
Flaws
- High price.
MEIJING silver with lamp 51x35x22
MEIJING budget aquaterrarium with lighting is perfect for various types of turtles, as well as small species of fish and reptiles. The aquaterrarium is made of silicate glass with a thickness of 0.5 cm. It is placed in fourth position in our rating.
The terrarium has a streamlined shape, so it will fit perfectly into any interior. The model is equipped with a lamp with a fluorescent lamp (24Wx51cm) with a switch, under which animals can sunbathe.
The MEIJING Aquarium company produces aquaterrariums, which have become very popular among customers. Due to their curved shape, MEIJING terrariums have a stylish appearance, and their affordable price allows you to create a colorful tropical corner without compromising your budget.
Manufacturer: China. Weight: 8kg. Volume: 0.073. Dimensions: 0.35x0.55x038. Cost: from 5000 rub.
Advantages
- Budget model;
- Glass body 0.5 cm;
- Interesting design;
- Aquaterrarium;
- Equipped with a fluorescent lamp.
Flaws
- Not found.
Aquatlantis TORTUM for turtles
The Tortum line is designed specifically for turtles, providing them with a natural habitat and including all the necessary components for comfortable animal care. These terrariums are made of glass and have the same lid. In our rating, we placed Aquatlantis Tortum on the fifth step.
The Tortum 100 model has a TK-500 filtration system, which ensures the cleanliness and freshness of water through two filter elements - carbon and foam. Charcoal eliminates micro-particles of algae, and the foam layer eliminates small particles contained in water. The filter is capable of moving up to 420 liters of water per hour. Attaches to the wall using suction cups. The terrarium also has a lighting system (LED 22 W) with a low safe voltage, which is placed in a metal box.
Dimensions: L 100 x W 40 x H 30 cm (120 l) with two ramps. Black color. Price: from 9000 rubles. Country of origin: Portugal.
Advantages
- Terrarium specifically for turtles;
- 2-stage filter for water purification;
- A lighting system is provided;
- The volume is designed for 120 liters.
Flaws
- Not found.
AquaEl 60 600x300x300
A silicate glass terrarium from the Polish company AquaEl, designed for reptile invertebrates, takes sixth place. The aquarium has specially designed doors to prevent the animal from escaping.
The model is equipped with a ventilation system that maintains an optimal level of humidity and excellent air circulation. The lid is made using innovative injection technology, thanks to which it holds very tightly and does not warp. When opened, condensation that has accumulated on the underside flows down the grooves back into the aquarium rather than spilling out behind the aquarium.
Country of origin: Poland. Material: silicate glass. Dimensions: 600x300x300. Weight: 8.51. Price: from 5000 rub.
Advantages
- Sealed aquarium;
- Ventilation system;
- Special cover;
- Convenient doors.
Flaws
- Not found.
Hagen ExoTerra Natural Terrarium Mini Wide 30x30x30 cm
An all-glass cubic terrarium, which is an excellent housing for amphibians and reptiles, closes our rating. Developed by European specialists, Hagen ExoTerra is equipped with everything necessary for keeping scorpions, arachnids, centipedes, mantises, beetles, stick insects, etc.
Opening front doors provide easy access to the feeding area and cleaning. A special shutter system will not allow animals to escape. The terrarium is also equipped with a lid made of mesh material, which provides good ventilation and helps ultraviolet light penetrate inside. The high waterproof side allows you to create a pond inside or lay a thick layer of substrate.
Country of origin: Germany (Hagen). Size: 30 x 30 x 30 cm. Price: from 4500 rub.
Beautiful aquarium design from professionals
IN APRIL FOR NEW CLIENTS: 1ST AQUARIUM SERVICE AS A GIFT!
Decorating an aquarium and terrarium is not only about creating an attractive picture behind the glass, but also solving other related problems. There are so many nuances to take into account that it is unlikely that you will be able to cope without special knowledge.
Ideal aquarium design: what is it?
An aquarium is, first of all, a small balanced ecosystem, and only then a stylish design element. That is why many, even experienced aquarists, entrust the creation of the interior of their aquarium and terrarium to our specialists.
After all, it’s one thing to imagine and depict a beautiful picture, another thing to competently bring an incredible idea to life:
- select the necessary equipment and decorations;
- prepare soil, water;
- choose fish, plants;
- provide optimal lighting and temperature.
Our experience allows us to fantasize.
At the same time, we do not forget about the functionality of design for a minute, so we can offer a wide selection of interesting options, beautiful and comfortable:
- pseudosea - a freshwater aquarium in which the bottom of the sea is imitated;
- story aquarium - the design follows a certain plot (sunken city, pirate ship);
- avant-garde - a combination of original shapes and unusual bright colors;
- herbalist or underwater garden – plants play the main role in creating the composition;
- marine aquarium with or without corals.
AQUARIUM-STYLE employees will expertly design an aquarium in Moscow and the Moscow region or create an original individual terrarium design for the most capricious inhabitants and demanding clients. You can admire some of our projects (a small part of them) in the gallery.
Order your aquarium or terrarium design right now!
Decorating an aquarium in Moscow or the Moscow region , making an individual aquarium design is one of the most popular services at Aquarium-Style . You can see some of our favorite projects on our website in the gallery .
Before starting work, we will help you:
Decide on the installation location of the aquarium (if it is not installed);
Decide on the type of aquarium (if you haven’t decided for yourself yet);
Get a complete picture of your “starting” budget and average monthly costs;
Decide on the type of aquarium design;
If necessary, visualize your future aquarium or submit photos of works of a similar type of design.
Price list*
"DESIGN OF AQUARIUMS"
Valid until 12/31/2019
The size of the aquarium, by volume of water in it
Freshwater aquarium, terrarium
Features of photography in an aquarium + video
If there is a well-equipped and beautiful aquarium at home, if there is a camera at home, and if a photography enthusiast lives in the house, then it is impossible not to capture your aquarium inhabitants in the photographs. The aquarium creates the opportunity to film in a constantly changing underwater world.
We are not talking about underwater diving shooting. At home, aquariums of this size are difficult to find, but they probably already exist. Let's look at the possibilities and specifics of filming through glass.
Both water and glass play the role of a lens that can distort the image of an object in a photograph. Taking high-quality photographs in an aquarium is not limited to pressing the camera shutter button in automatic mode.
Glare, reflection of elements surrounding the aquarium, color distortion (noise in digital photography) associated with the overlap of the camera flash spectrum with the special spectrum of the aquarium lighting system nullify the desire to get a unique photo that could be sold on the Internet. Yes, good photographs of the underwater world cost money on photo stocks (online exchanges for selling photographs).
Let's look at the specific features of such photo sessions in the underwater world of a home aquarium.
Preparatory stage:
The cleanliness of the glass plays an important role in obtaining high-quality photos. Before filming begins, the glass must be cleaned with special care on both sides. The presence of spot green fouling will spoil the quality. Shooting can be done 4-6 hours after cleaning. The cloudiness resulting from cleaning should settle and be filtered out.
The outside of the glass should be cleaned with special products; they create the effect of polishing the glass. Two factors will indicate the possibility of shooting: the fish should calm down, and their movements, through clean glass, should resemble floating in the air. A similar state is possible when the water in the aquarium is crystal clear.
Dirty stains on glass look terrible in photographs. Don’t forget to feed the fish a little on the eve of shooting; a well-fed fish moves more calmly and is more inclined to participate in the photo session, but perhaps it will go to sleep under a snag.
Selecting a shooting subject.
Decide what needs to be photographed. When photographing the general design of the aquarium and the bottom landscape, there will be fewer problems; for filming exotic fish in motion from a short distance, you will have to check several camera settings; for filming stationary elements of the aquarium decoration, the only problem may be with the backlight.
Lighting in the aquarium and in the room
It is better to take photographs with the aquarium lighting fully on. When shooting moving fish, you can set a slow shutter speed in bright light. The light in the aquarium should be brighter than the light in the room.
You should try to photograph stationary objects (snags, plants, decorative elements), both with and without lighting, with the flash on. When shooting with flash, the palette of colors completely changes. Objects located near the aquarium will be reflected on the glass and will appear in the frame. If there is polished furniture in the room next to the aquarium, then it must be isolated with a screen. Polishing reflects light and creates serious interference during filming.
The process of a photo session in an aquarium
Any photography of an aquarium must be done from a tripod.
High-quality photographs of fish can be obtained using macro photography; in such photographs they will look most impressive. The difficulty lies in obtaining sharpness over the entire depth of the aquarium; you need to experiment with the depth of field.
The general principle of such filming is a large number of photographs, which allows you to subsequently select the most successful ones. The same applies to using autofocus when shooting fast-moving fish. The camera may not focus at the desired moment, or may focus on another stationary subject. When photographing stationary details of the underwater landscape and its inhabitants (shooting snails), its use is useful.
When the camera lens is close to the glass, it is necessary to shoot point-blank to avoid the effect of reflection. The flash must be turned off when shooting like this. Since the scales of fish are beautifully expressed in the light of the flash, you can try positioning the flash (if it is removable) at an angle of 45° to the line of the lens.
A good effect is achieved by using polarizing lens filters to soften the light from the flash.
It is recommended to use the flash in a darkened room. Use light sensitivity as much as possible, this will reduce noise.
Try shooting with changing white balance.
In conclusion, again, take more pictures and choose the best ones.
Video: features of shooting in an aquarium
Aquarium painting
Aquarium like a painting
When decorating modern interiors, designers often use a new, rapidly developing trend - eco-style or eco-design . It first appeared at the end of the 20th century, when city residents were pretty tired of the problems of urbanization and wanted to let the natural world into their boring home. Here, in “ green design ,” natural motifs are relevant - an abundance of wood, a large number of living plants, pseudo-stone waterfalls, fountains and, of course, aquariums .
However, it is not always possible to find enough free space to place luxury aquariums in apartments and offices, which, together with cabinets and equipment, occupy a significant part of our living space.
The best solution offered by the manufacturers of these products for small-scale premises was a small wall-mounted version, attached to the wall using special reliable equipment.
wall aquariums appeared
Wall aquariums can be of different shapes:
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But, by far, the most popular option is rectangular (or square).
It is these aquariums that are called living paintings , which is usually emphasized by the frame.
The frame can be made in a variety of styles - from modern, high-tech, to classic, vintage, with classic patterns.
An important feature is that the aquarium picture must be suspended using a special mount only on a permanent (load-bearing) wall, since the weight of such a structure can be up to 100 kg or more (depending on the volume).
The small thickness of such aquariums makes it a unique decorative element that does not create any inconvenience or bulkiness. The width of such “paintings”, as a rule, does not exceed 18-20 cm, so when decorating you should follow or take into account some specific rules:
Try to give preference to small and medium-sized decorations that can be freely placed in a narrow space without cramping the living inhabitants.
Both living plants and artificial options can be used as plant decorations. When choosing living plants, it is necessary to take into account their relationship to light and growth rate.
Preference is given to slow-growing plants that are not very demanding on good lighting - cryptorhira, echinodorus, anubias and the like.
To ensure the stability of a beautiful living picture, aquarists often use artificial (plastic or silk) plants, which are less difficult to care for and retain an attractive decorative appearance for quite a long time.
Lovers of marine motifs can even create a living wall picture in the pseudo-sea , using a special color scheme of light and decor. But here, too, we must not forget about the size and number of decorations placed!
And fans of exotic, but uncomplicated options can afford an aquarium on the wall with a “ dry pond ” - without water and fish.
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In “ living pictures ” small guppies and zebrafish, tetras, neons and the like look beautiful... If the volume of the wall reservoir allows, you can use larger fish - lalius, angelfish, gouramis and other calm fish will take root. Bottom dwellers are not recommended, since they will feel extremely uncomfortable in the narrow space of the bottom.
The mechanism for accessing the interior of such structures is quite simple, although some different models and manufacturers have different mechanisms.
The front part, which covers electrics, technological elements and even small equipment located here, can be pulled up or folded down. Thanks to this, the process of caring for such an aquarium does not cause any particular difficulties.
In a modern interior, painting aquariums look stylish and harmonious. They look best at eye level and at arm's length from the person watching.
Sometimes such an aquarium can resemble a flat modern TV, but here, first of all, the effect of a never-boring (constantly changing), living picture is attractive. In a darkened room, such an original pond can act as a kind of lamp and promote rest and relaxation. In addition, a piece of the underwater world has a positive effect on comfort, creates harmony and a good psychological atmosphere.
The design of a picture aquarium , like any aquarium, is an artificial recreation of a corner of wildlife in your home. But, if suddenly you want to slightly refresh or change the design style of your wall “ Living Picture ”, you can do this with little expense, effort and time, or even turn it into a real work of art. The originality of these designs, their small size, modern finishing and design technologies allow you not to limit the flight of your imagination when decorating aquarium paintings, as well as the flight of your most unusual ideas and plans.
