Please Be Patient With Me

[maddog10]

Hi everyone, My name is Michael Hill and I am a new member of the CCA. I am trying to learn how these forum operate so please be patient with me, I am sure I am going to mess this up some how. I am new to Cichlids and digital photography as well (I am used to hitting the little button and waiting for the picture to shoot out the front of the camera, shake a couple of times, low and behold a picture). Since I am new to this I thought I would put you guys to the test. Attached (hopefully) is a picture of my new WC peacock. He is in a tank with 5 wonderful ladies and boy is he living the life (2 are holding and 1 just gave me 10 fry). The test is can you guys tell me what he is. I know what he is supposed to be. I hope to meet a bunch of you guys at the next meeting. I am also REALLY impressed with the photos that Pat and Bobby have posted and hope to pick your brains a bit and learn how to take some decent quality pics.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g36/maddog10/peacock.jpg

[Chuck & Veronica]

Wow! That's a beautiful fish. Welcome to the forum, and to the CCA!

Chuck

[phishphorphun]

Hey Michael. Welcome to CCA, and congrats on the fish and parenting success.

That male peacock has some awesome colors. I'm not sure which it is. I am going to guess Aulonocara Stuartgranti "Cobue".

When you use the flash aboard the camera, there is a lot of reflection to deal with. That is why the colors are hard for me to decipher. But I think I see a tint of maroon in him which is similar to the cobue.

[maddog10]

Right fish, just wrong part of the lake. He is actually a Chilumba. Sorry about the photo, have to work with what I got (at least for now). Had to really knock a lot of contrast out of the original just to get it that good. I have been taking in all the advice you have been giving folks and guess I am going to have to make a trip to the camera shop soon for an equipment run.

[phishphorphun]

Yep. Chilumba is definitely the home of this guy. And looking at the colors in the tail, you have a nice specimen here.

Quick tip on shooting with flash. If you don't have a remote flash that you can put over the top of the tank, try diffusing the onboard flash. Simply tape some tissue paper over the front of the flash lens. Just be careful not to have it too close so you don't scorch it. About a 1/4" of space is good.

If you decide you want to get better aquarium pix, go over to the Aquatic Photography Forum site. You will definitely learn a lot there.

http://www.aquatic-photography.com

[maddog10]

Bobby,
Thanks for the advice, I will give the tissue paper trick a try. I am going to eventually (once my fish room is up and running) invest in some better camera equipment. Thanks again.