Question on lighting to photograph terrarium

I'm running a webcam to watch my terrarium, but I'm having a heck of a time
with lighting.

Presently, I am using ambient room light+blacklight above the terrarium.
This results in reflections visible in the glass of the terrarium, meaning
you can actually see the reflection of the camera tripod in the picture.

I've tried lighting above the tank, but it tends to "flare" at the top.

Can anyone give advice in regards to positioning, and relative brightness?

-The cam can be viewed at www.mantiscam.com

-I am using a fairly high quality webcam - the 3com Homeconnect.

-Terrarium is presently humidifying, so ignore the fog for now.


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.................................................. ............................

"We must use terror, assassination, intimidation, land confiscation, and the
cutting of all social services to rid the Galilee of its Arab population."

-Joseph Weitz, head of the Jewish Agency's Colonization Department.

.................................................. ............................
http://www.memeticcandiru.com

A trick in photography to reduce reflection is to use hair spray on the
glass which would matt the glass a bit.

Shouldn't the terrarium have a daylight neon to aid with the photosynthesis
of the plants, lizards, snakes, etc? That way you'll be illuminating the
interior, so no need for external lighting.

I see you already have the blacklight on, and it is a bit foggy, but the
leaves in the foregroung seem quite clear.


wrote in message
news:ReAnb.64180$zx2.18354@edtnps84...
I'm running a webcam to watch my terrarium, but I'm having a heck of a
time
with lighting.

Presently, I am using ambient room light+blacklight above the terrarium.
This results in reflections visible in the glass of the terrarium, meaning
you can actually see the reflection of the camera tripod in the picture.

I've tried lighting above the tank, but it tends to "flare" at the top.

Can anyone give advice in regards to positioning, and relative brightness?

-The cam can be viewed at www.mantiscam.com

-I am using a fairly high quality webcam - the 3com Homeconnect.

-Terrarium is presently humidifying, so ignore the fog for now.


--

.................................................. ...........................
..

"We must use terror, assassination, intimidation, land confiscation, and
the
cutting of all social services to rid the Galilee of its Arab
population."

-Joseph Weitz, head of the Jewish Agency's Colonization
Department.


.................................................. ...........................
..

http://www.memeticcandiru.com

In calgary.general Basilic wrote:
A trick in photography to reduce reflection is to use hair spray on the
glass which would matt the glass a bit.

Neat idea... will try.

Shouldn't the terrarium have a daylight neon to aid with the photosynthesis
of the plants, lizards, snakes, etc? That way you'll be illuminating the
interior, so no need for external lighting.

There's no live plants... Praying Mantids, which this cage is build for,
don't need live plants, and don't like harsh direct light - Mainly they just
need stuff to climb on, and a lot of heat and humidity. Any lights I have
added tend to create a "flare" effect at the top of the frame.

I see you already have the blacklight on, and it is a bit foggy, but the
leaves in the foregroung seem quite clear.

Fogging should be done within the hour. Can you see all of the
distortions, though, including veritical lines, and the camera tripod?






--
.................................................. ............................

Chase after truth like hell and you'll free yourself, even though you never
touch its coat-tails.
-Clarence Darrow

.................................................. ............................
http://www.memeticcandiru.com

Basilic wrote:

A trick in photography to reduce reflection is to use hair spray on the
glass which would matt the glass a bit.

Shouldn't the terrarium have a daylight neon to aid with the photosynthesis
of the plants, lizards, snakes, etc? That way you'll be illuminating the
interior, so no need for external lighting.

I see you already have the blacklight on, and it is a bit foggy, but the
leaves in the foregroung seem quite clear.


I'd tend to agree - daylight wavelengths will help plants grow (and
surely be healthier for the inhabitants too) - though obviously couldn't
be used at night. Lighting the inside of the tank rather than the
outside is the way to get rid of the reflections though - that, or (if
you have clear sides) put light in from the front/sides?

Velvet

In calgary.general Velvet wrote:

be used at night. Lighting the inside of the tank rather than the
outside is the way to get rid of the reflections though - that, or (if

This is the crux: When I do this, I tend to get "Flares" at the top of my
frame, and glaring reflection off some leaves. How can I avoid this?

Is internal light my solution, or is it a matter or orientation?




--
.................................................. ............................

"In June 1967, we again had a choice: The Egyptian Army concentrations in
the Sinai approaches do not prove that Nasser was really about to attack
us. We must be honest with ourselves. We decided to attack him"

-Menachem Begin

.................................................. ............................
http://www.memeticcandiru.com

wrote:

In calgary.general Velvet wrote:


be used at night. Lighting the inside of the tank rather than the
outside is the way to get rid of the reflections though - that, or (if


This is the crux: When I do this, I tend to get "Flares" at the top of my
frame, and glaring reflection off some leaves. How can I avoid this?

Is internal light my solution, or is it a matter or orientation?





I meant internal lighting, yes.

Failing that, try aiming the light at an angle to the glass, then moving
the camera around at an angle also. Try draping black cloth (velvet is
very good for this) over the tripod legs so they're not reflective.

Velvet

On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 20:23:13 GMT,
wrote:

I'm running a webcam to watch my terrarium, but I'm having a heck of a time
with lighting.

Presently, I am using ambient room light+blacklight above the terrarium.
This results in reflections visible in the glass of the terrarium, meaning
you can actually see the reflection of the camera tripod in the picture.

I've tried lighting above the tank, but it tends to "flare" at the top.

Can anyone give advice in regards to positioning, and relative brightness?

-The cam can be viewed at www.mantiscam.com

-I am using a fairly high quality webcam - the 3com Homeconnect.

-Terrarium is presently humidifying, so ignore the fog for now.

heh, not much of a mantis cam without any mantids.

In calgary.general MisNomer wrote:
Polarizing filter?

What is that?




--
.................................................. ............................

Beauty comes cheap in a wealthy country

.................................................. ............................
http://www.memeticcandiru.com

In calgary.general BigC wrote:

heh, not much of a mantis cam without any mantids.

I have two suppliers, both of which were sure a month ago that they
were getting them right away... Both figure it could be any time now.

The suspense is frustrating!

Nonetheless, the wait has been good, in that it's given me time to fine-tune
the environment, and determine better ways to maintain the appropriate
heat/humidity.


--
.................................................. ............................

Beauty comes cheap in a wealthy country

.................................................. ............................
http://www.memeticcandiru.com

On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 23:12:53 GMT,
wrote:

In calgary.general BigC wrote:

heh, not much of a mantis cam without any mantids.

I have two suppliers, both of which were sure a month ago that they
were getting them right away... Both figure it could be any time now.

The suspense is frustrating!

Nonetheless, the wait has been good, in that it's given me time to fine-tune
the environment, and determine better ways to maintain the appropriate
heat/humidity.

What do you feed those suckers? That sounds pretty cool actually. I
have an empty tank but I don't feel like getting fish again.

I used to have some Hermit Crabs and then a couple of Madagascar
Hissing Coackroaches (just like on Fear Factor)