Question on lighting to photograph terrarium

BigC wrote in
:

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)

If you have an empty tank, I wouldn't mind taking it off your hands, email
me and lemme know

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wrote in news:IHCnb.67811$EO3.1199
@clgrps13:

In calgary.general MisNomer wrote:
Polarizing filter?

What is that?

Something that's -very- difficult to use in conjunction with a webcam :P
They're usually good at getting rid of reflections however; cost about 30$.

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wrote in
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.

Well, I'd give some ideas, but right now it's practically pitch black.
6:47pm. When it's up, give me a shout on msn and I'll help you figure it
out. Photographing terrariums and aquariums is a specialty of mine.

--
http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=moosespet

In calgary.general BigC wrote:

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.

Ideally, a variety of insects 1/3 your mantis' size, but in the winter
you're pretty well limited to crickets and the occasional mealworm/silkworm.

I was hoping to get a single mantid, but it appears my only choice may be to
get an egg-sac. If you want a mantid, I may very well have some to spare in
the coming weeks.


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

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

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"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

.................................................. ............................
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In calgary.general Jon Pike wrote:

Well, I'd give some ideas, but right now it's practically pitch black.
6:47pm. When it's up, give me a shout on msn and I'll help you figure it
out. Photographing terrariums and aquariums is a specialty of mine.

Cool. Take a look tomorrow during daylight - the picture is updated every
minute.


--
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"Once something is seen, it cannot be made to be unseen."

-Bertoldt Brecht

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http://www.memeticcandiru.com

wrote in
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.

It looks like you're using light from a window, is that the case?

--
http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=moosespet

In calgary.general Jon Pike wrote:

It looks like you're using light from a window, is that the case?

I am, normally - but as a result of advice given, I added an 18" floro this
morning.... You can see the "glare" effect it gives.

I'm going to see about getting a dimmer flouro.


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"The Arabs refused the kind of "compromise" offered to them by their benign
adversaries, who even were so kind as to permit them to serve as an
underpaid and exploited labor force in the lands from which they had been
expelled"
-Noam Chomsky, The Fateful Triangle, p 106

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

wrote in
news:JcSnb.77394$EO3.1951@clgrps13:

In calgary.general Jon Pike wrote:

It looks like you're using light from a window, is that the case?

I am, normally - but as a result of advice given, I added an 18" floro
this morning.... You can see the "glare" effect it gives.

I'm going to see about getting a dimmer flouro.



Ahh. I see. but! You'll notice you don't have the reflections anymore, yes?
At least, I can't see them. The glare is happening because the light is in
the frame. If you can move the cam closer, raise it up and point it down,
or raise the light, that might do the trick for you.

--
http://www.neopets.com/refer.phtml?username=moosespet

In calgary.general Jon Pike wrote:

Ahh. I see. but! You'll notice you don't have the reflections anymore, yes?
At least, I can't see them. The glare is happening because the light is in
the frame. If you can move the cam closer, raise it up and point it down,
or raise the light, that might do the trick for you.

Definitely no reflections, so I know I'm on the right path. I think the
trick now is to mitigate the brightness, and experiment with camera
positioning as you suggested.

Will keep you posted.


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

"They that would give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserve
neither liberty nor safety"
- Benjamin Franklin

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

wrote in
newswSnb.47$EY3.40@edtnps84:

In calgary.general Jon Pike wrote:

Ahh. I see. but! You'll notice you don't have the reflections
anymore, yes? At least, I can't see them. The glare is happening
because the light is in the frame. If you can move the cam closer,
raise it up and point it down, or raise the light, that might do the
trick for you.

Definitely no reflections, so I know I'm on the right path. I think
the trick now is to mitigate the brightness, and experiment with
camera positioning as you suggested.

Will keep you posted.

If it's a flouro, you won't be able to regulate brightness afaik, so your
best bet is, like i said, get the light source out of the frame.


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