The Krib	[E-mail]

Doug Brown

e-mail: debrown at kodak.com

Doug lives in Rochester, NY, has a Ph.D. Chemistry, does NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), web programming and lots in between. He also keeps guinea pigs, anoles, birds (none now though) cats and kids. Doug is a contributor to the Apistogramma mailing list and to the Krib. He also currently maintains the David Soares Apisto Page. Here is what Doug says about his photographs:

Digital

I used a Kodak DC120, which is about 2-3 years old and has Kodak's first megapixel CCD.

The DC120 macro setting allegedly focuses at a minimum of 8", but it seemed like I was still OK at 6" or so. The flash is not useful in the macro setting, except to set off my slave. Its minimum distance is 2-3 feet, so I used a SR2000 slave flash. I loved it. This particular flash is a rechargable underwater slave. It's not connected to the camera but flashes milliseconds after another flash goes off in the same vicinity. It's small enough to hold in one hand while you hold the camera in the other. After just a few test shots it was easy to see that holding it above and to the side of the camera, and a few inches back, would work fine. At least for some quick shots.

I used a shutter speed of 1/250 sec to 1/380 sec. I forget the exact equivalent f stops but they were about f/11. The software is somewhat cumbersome, it was somewhat difficult to focus (only in macro mode) and transferring photos to a PC is a little slow. Oh, and there is a noticeable delay between pressing the button and when the photo was actually taken. Not so good for moving fish. BUT, I could erase my bad shots on the spot!!!

The only manipulation done to the photos was to crop and reduce the size 50%, compress heavily in JPEG format and slightly adjust light levels (brightness and contrast) on some of the photos.

Since this camera came out there has been the DC210 series and just last week the DC220/260 series was announced. The DC260 with Kodak's new 1.6 megapixel CCD, macro, and external flash trigger will sell for just under $1000. Most if not all of the problems I mentioned have been addressed. The CCD is sensitive enough and has enough resolution to yield "photo quality 8x10 prints". The software and operation have been drastically improved and data transfer is 10 times as fast. I want one.

Analog

• Nikon EM 35mm camera with attached flash
• Nikon f3.5 55mm macro fixed lens (minimal focal length = about 6")
• Kodak Royal Gold 400 Print Film
• Kodak PhotoDoc Color Scanner
• Adobe Photoshop

Technique:

• Shoot at night with blinds shut to reduce glare, tank lights left on
• Use typical automatic flash settings, with minimal distance setting for flash
• Always shoot at an angle through glass so flash is not reflected straight back
• I like to set a focus and move in and out and follow the fish around
• If fish will stay still you can adjust focus on the fly
• Shoot before feeding fish, they are nice and active then. You have to be quick but get more "poses"

Comments:

This lens is tough to use but can give great results. If I had to do it again I'd use a zoom macro. It was not possible to get good photos at the minimal focal length of the lens, due to the flash delay and very narrow depth of field (makes focusing difficult). Best results were obtained at about 12-18 inches away. I also wound up making a small aluminium hood for the flash to direct more of the light down.

	Up to The Krib	This page was last updated 23 June 1999