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Read this thread mike:
I know it's long but really worth the read. This should be something you are looking for to get the right lighting. below is a copy of the first post. Hopefully this information will get others into make a flash.
"my current lighting setup is a mishmash of old equipment that i inherited from my father and new stuff that i acquired after learning more about lighting here at APF.
it works well for me for fish photos as well full tank shots and there seems to be some interest in something like this. if i was setting this system up now from scratch, this would be my shopping list...
overhead flash shopping list
2 x medialight master slave flash, $32.95 ea.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ave_120V_.html
2 x smith-victor PG160S wireless mini slave flash (guide no. 40'/12 m), $18.95 ea.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ini_Slave.html
2 x Smith-Victor PG750 optical slave trigger with female PC socket, $17.95 ea.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...e_Trigger.html
1 x 10ft length white vinyl rain gutter, $10.46 ea.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053
2 x incandescent clamp light, $8.97 ea.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053
1 x 12ft electric 2-cube extension cord, $1.79 ea.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053
total price = $169.89 before tax
- install optical slave triggers onto each mini slave flash.
- use a hacksaw to cut the rain gutter a few inches shorter than your tank widths. this will allow room to place one of the mini slave flashes at one end of the gutter to trigger the larger slave flashes underneath.
- remove the hood & clamp from the lights. i only use the light socket and cord.
- install slave flashes into light sockets. the nearest available electirc plug may be some distance from the tank and the extension cord addresses this.
- place one slave flash at each end of the rain gutter pointing towards each other.
- either the front or back of the rain gutter will be raised because the slave flashes are too big to fit completely under it. raise the back, not the front, because you don't want any light bleeding out from under the front of the rain gutter. if you don't, you'll have a nice shot of your own reflection off the front of the tank.
- another option for placement of the optically triggered mini slave flash is behind the rain giutter in the middle where it can provide additional overhead flash in addition to triggering the larger slave flashes. this is possible because the back of gutter is raised per above.
- 'power-down' (if your cam has this capability) or diffuse the onboard flash with tissue or paper. the goal is the have enough flash to trigger your slave flashes but not so much that you get a reflection off the front glass.
- you may need to disable the pre-flash feature if your cam has it to prevent premature firing of the slave flashes.
i'll add pics too as soon as i can. i hope this is helpful. i'm always open to comments/opinions that can improve/simplify this setup. if you have any questions, please ask.
happy snapping!
"
-MJ
I know it's long but really worth the read. This should be something you are looking for to get the right lighting. below is a copy of the first post. Hopefully this information will get others into make a flash.
"my current lighting setup is a mishmash of old equipment that i inherited from my father and new stuff that i acquired after learning more about lighting here at APF.
it works well for me for fish photos as well full tank shots and there seems to be some interest in something like this. if i was setting this system up now from scratch, this would be my shopping list...
overhead flash shopping list
2 x medialight master slave flash, $32.95 ea.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ave_120V_.html
2 x smith-victor PG160S wireless mini slave flash (guide no. 40'/12 m), $18.95 ea.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ini_Slave.html
2 x Smith-Victor PG750 optical slave trigger with female PC socket, $17.95 ea.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...e_Trigger.html
1 x 10ft length white vinyl rain gutter, $10.46 ea.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053
2 x incandescent clamp light, $8.97 ea.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053
1 x 12ft electric 2-cube extension cord, $1.79 ea.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053
total price = $169.89 before tax
- install optical slave triggers onto each mini slave flash.
- use a hacksaw to cut the rain gutter a few inches shorter than your tank widths. this will allow room to place one of the mini slave flashes at one end of the gutter to trigger the larger slave flashes underneath.
- remove the hood & clamp from the lights. i only use the light socket and cord.
- install slave flashes into light sockets. the nearest available electirc plug may be some distance from the tank and the extension cord addresses this.
- place one slave flash at each end of the rain gutter pointing towards each other.
- either the front or back of the rain gutter will be raised because the slave flashes are too big to fit completely under it. raise the back, not the front, because you don't want any light bleeding out from under the front of the rain gutter. if you don't, you'll have a nice shot of your own reflection off the front of the tank.
- another option for placement of the optically triggered mini slave flash is behind the rain giutter in the middle where it can provide additional overhead flash in addition to triggering the larger slave flashes. this is possible because the back of gutter is raised per above.
- 'power-down' (if your cam has this capability) or diffuse the onboard flash with tissue or paper. the goal is the have enough flash to trigger your slave flashes but not so much that you get a reflection off the front glass.
- you may need to disable the pre-flash feature if your cam has it to prevent premature firing of the slave flashes.
i'll add pics too as soon as i can. i hope this is helpful. i'm always open to comments/opinions that can improve/simplify this setup. if you have any questions, please ask.
happy snapping!
"-MJ
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