Let's Go Fishin'!
By May Lattanzio
5 August 2007
My long love affair with these beautiful orientals began decades ago while searching for the right parrot to bring into the family. We were visiting pet shops in Orange County, CA and happened upon one with a 3' kiddie pool in the parking lot. In it were baby koi. Someone came out with lunch in slurry form contained in small baby bottles, complete with nipples. Thrown in the pool, the water boiled with hungry babies, vying for their food.
A few years ago I wrote an article on them for "Florida Gardening", but back then, shooting with a 3.2 megapixel
Canon, I hadn't gotten the spectacular images I get with my
8 megapixel.
It's simple to capture them. The first image I have chosen was taken leaning over the railing of a footbridge at the entrance to the Children's Petting Zoo at the Houston Zoo.
The koi were milling, looking for bits of food last thrown in and now consumed. Many were half out of the water. The shot was an accident, but "in person" viewing it looks like the image of an oil or acrylic painting. In fact, when I showed it to an art gallery owner, she thought it was exactly that.
The others were taken at a local koi breeder's exhibit. The dark liner is a plus. Remembering that water means death to digitals, I request that the koi are hungry, and then the owner begins feeding them. They will hit the surface, create bubbles which you will capture with your macro on, and when the flash pops, you will often find perfect stars. Every shot is different, and depending on your preference, why not experiment with different shutter speeds?
These were done, as I said, inside a warehouse building where the ponds are kept. However, a garden pond is as perfect - the images will be different, often containing lovely reflections (including the occasional image of the person behind the camera). Experiment with a polarizing filter. Don't be afraid to get as close to the koi as possible. But don't fall in and drown your camera.
More How To Stories
More stories by May Lattanzio
Thanks for letting us know!
Thanks for voicing your concerns. Rest assured, we take it seriously. We'll look into it and take any appropriate action.
