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Anonymous
Hey /p/,

I've got a settings/equipment question for you.
Currently there is a bioluminescent plankton bloom in the waters by where I live. I was wondering what are the best settings and equipment to take pictures of it.

All I have at my personal disposal is an Olympus digital camera, and a shoddy camera phone. I have friends with better equipment, one guy is a professional photographer, that I could borrow some items from.

tl;dr. What do I need to take pictures of glowing waves?

Pic Related, found on google image search
>> Anonymous
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Same Google search gave me this....

"Woven sculpture in monofilament, fluorescent monofilament and wire. Image taken under UV light"

I'd think your light source critical.
>> Anonymous
lens with a wide ass aperture
or long exposures but if they move then your just going to have blurry bioluminescent plankton blooms
>> Anonymous
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I WANT THAT KRABBY PATTY
>> Anonymous
>>219630
Is a UV flash a possibility?
>> Anonymous
>>219639
I've never used one before but I don't believe that it would be useful seeing that the plankton have to be agitated to emit light. Plus the distance from the waves wouldn't allow for a high enough exposure to produce noticeable luminescence.

Also were talking about waves which are in constant motion so a long exposure would just make a blurry image.
>> Anonymous
>>219640
yes, long exposure will look like a carpet but even with a wide aperture I'd think a stimulus like a UV source might be needed.
>> Anonymous
bioluminescent plankton DOES NOT REQUIRE UV LIGHT TO GENERATE LIGHT... light is generated from a chemical reaction, using UV may cause other shit to emit light as well
>> Anonymous
>>220131

I understand bioluminescence but wide aperture plus low light conditions all but require it be maximized beyond normal. You're not going to see much if it's dark enough to see the glow.
>> Anonymous
Probably not going to happen with the olympus. Highest aperture - 1.4 or 1.8 would help, raise ISO a good amount, use a tripod, manually focus.

At best a few seconds exposure might be necessary to really get it, and anything over 1/25th sec. will start to blur in waves.