Shooting on curved glass guide

[Dearth]

Since first posting this guide which really didn't tell anybody anything they didn't already know I have learned a few more tips and tricks about shooting on curved glass as always use a stabilizer like a tripod or ledge to prevent camera shake

First off lets deal with the curved glass

-As I previously stated very few people will offer any constructive comments when it comes to shooting on curved glass as it can and will distort images
-Depending on your tank style of curved glass and where you shoot on the glass your shots could be magnified or conversely be distant, If you hit the glass at just the wrong angle it could be severely distorted or your image could be quite blurry
-Clean your glass before shooting an image as curved glass loves to show every imperfection or piece of algae/dirt on it

Setting up for the shot

This is the trickiest part and the hardest to do
-If you are in a well lit room or in a room with indirect light hang curtains or a blanket that will either diffuse or stop the light from hitting your tank as in a well lit area curved glass loves to cast reflected light or put unsightly bright spots in your shot
-In a dimly lit room your biggest enemy will be lights from your room as they will reflect off the tank glass (Lamps, ceiling lights, pod lights and so forth) either find a way to diffuse the light or shoot with only the tank lights as your light source
-Use the tank lights to your advantage as in curved glass tanks the light can create interesting backdrops as it bounces off the glass and it can create some very interesting shots that are just not possible with flat glass
-Many people bring in another light source to create backdrop or mood lighting on a curved glass tank I have found that adjustable cheap LED lights are very effective for this put the light or lamp near where you want to shoot and as close to the glass as possible and adjust the light intensity as needed to light up your subject ...the only concern is because the light does not lay flat on curved glass you have to use a deflector or towel to diffuse or stop the light from glaring into your camera lens or you can just use the flash function on your phone or camera it will work but limits your options on mood lighting


Shooting the image

-All the tough stuff is done now everybody has a different preference on settings and what to use so my only advice is to experiment find a setting that works best for you
-When shooting on curved glass use it to your advantage everyone will tell you to shoot 90 degrees to the glass well on curved glass that is a tall order and can lead to distortion and ruined shots. I have found that shooting a few degrees off on curved glass produces a better image with less distortion
-I have found shooting from a top down angle produces distortion that interferes with the shot but shooting from a bottom up angle gives me a better shot. That being said shooting at the same level straight on gives you the best shot and the distortion of the glass can actually improve the image
-Shoot with the lens as close as you can get to the glass to prevent any background lighting causing glare off the glass or get a light diffusor on the end of the lens
-Take lots of shots from several angles and use the tank lights, background lights or your own lighting method to your advantage

Post shoot

This here is strictly for when you download your pictures find an editing program that will help clean up your image it helps a lot

Hope this was somewhat informative and happy shooting