2013 Virtual Koi Show Picture Tips

[icu2]

For most of us, fall is fast approaching and it's often a time when we're moving our fish into protected tanks for winter, and
it's a great opportunity to take your photos for the Virtual Koi Show! And even if you over winter yours outdoors, now,
before temps start to drop, is a great time to bowl them and get some pictures!

So here are some of the basic guidelines to enter them in the competition when the time comes:

1. Container must be blue (preferably the same color as standard show bowls)
(You can make this yourself, something like THIS one or you can pick up a storage container for a few bucks at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc)

2. Measurement scale must extend for entire length of fish and be marked in 1" increments with each inch marked with the appropriate number
(This can be a measuring tape, ruler, or physically marked on your container, etc... 1/2" marks are welcome but not required)

3. Pictures must be taken from above fish, with nose at 6 O'clock facing towards you.

4. High resolution pictures will be best.

5. Photographs may be cropped, but no other editing is permitted.


Get those pictures now and save them so you'll be ready to submit them in January 2014!

[icu2]

Show time will be here before you know it!

[icu2]

Get those pictures before the real cold sets in!

[KatieVL]

Awe geez, I thought there would be tips on how to take good koi pics. I'm still trying to figure that out.

[icu2]

I agree, I wish I could provide that! But I've read many bits and pieces (use a flash, bowl them in the shade, and if your camera has the ability
get a circular polarizing filter) and I found some more tips in this thread... but anybody else have other tips to better photography of koi?

https://www.koiphen.com/forums/showth...Photo-Exersize

[RichToyBox]

In the days of film, you needed to make one shot count. Today with digital, the costs of film and developing are nil, so shoot many, many, many pictures and then throw almost all away. My cell phone will shoot fast enough that in just a few minutes I can have about 200 pictures to look through and usually are able to find at least a few that approach what is desired. With my DSLR, the same shooting is possible, except when I am trying to use the flash, as the flash needs time to recharge. I can with the circular polarizer eliminate most of the glare. For some of the cell phones, they do make circular polarizer lenses, but I have no clue of the quality.

[KatieVL]

I've read of people using their polarized sunglasses with the smartphone camera.
I just ordered a new camera, Canon EOS Rebel SL1 and a EF 70-300 f4-5.6 lens to go with the kit lens. Now I need to figure out how to use it.

[*Ci*]

My regular camera seems to be malfunctioning so I tried taking this picture with an ipad 4 - all I did was make sure it was in the shade with a solid roof overhead so nothing would reflect; no special settings or filters.
Do you think it is good enough quality-wise? Also is my tub exceptable?
It is a goldfish, but not one that I would enter ... is there going to be a goldfish section in the show after all?

[icu2]

The bowl color looks fine! Make sure the marks are in inches and use the highest resolution you can...
you want to choose a photo where the fins are shown too. I'm sure this one isn't, but the photo makes it look
like he could be missing his left pec.

[SunCat]

How about rotating the photo, would that be permitted?

Sorry about the poor photo as an example. I tried to take pictures of my fish when I moved them and.... the photos didn't turn out very good. My water was green, I was rushing, it was getting a bit dark, etc.

[SunCat]

Oh and here is a nice article on koi photography that I came across a while ago: http://www.clarkekoi.com/photography-of-koi.html

[jimfish98]

No special filters here. Just my iphone camera and taken without the sun hitting it. I like overcast days too, you can get good light without anything too bright and reflective on the surface.

[rainblood]

How about rotating the photo, would that be permitted?

Sorry about the poor photo as an example. I tried to take pictures of my fish when I moved them and.... the photos didn't turn out very good. My water was green, I was rushing, it was getting a bit dark, etc.

Rotating it normally distorts the shape of the head because you are taking it at an upward angle, which makes it look shorter, and then when you flip the pic, it'll seem like your fish has a short head.

[icu2]

How about rotating the photo, would that be permitted?

Noting Rain's point, but yes, rotating the image is not against the rules, as I'd include that as
"cropping", but any other editing is prohibited.

[Oakridge]

Nice Toncho!

[jimc2142003]

I never knew it was such a pain to take pictures of koi @ 6 o'clock position.

[KatieVL]

Rectangular bowls are easier to use than round ones. In round bowls the fish just swim in circles and never line up well. They don't turn around as much in rectangular bowls. Some people put a pinch of sedation in the water to calm them and reduce frantic swimming.

[icu2]

And don't forget to get the measuring line in there too...
Just needs some selective cropping.

[bbmc88]

I have photos already , cant take anymore at this time though . Can photos be used in blue tubs but without measurement sticker or marks?

[jimfish98]

I have photos already , cant take anymore at this time though . Can photos be used in blue tubs but without measurement sticker or marks?

When you enter the koi, it asks for size for benching purposes. I think the lines are required to help confirm your measurement.