Nikon D70, and other D series questions

[Phyllia131]

Okay, so I've been photgraphing reptiles for years now, and am happy with my progress. However, I cant seem to produce a decent image through a tank. I just cant get the color settings right, and the curved glass distortion dosnt help. I get the best white balance by custom setting it, using the sand floor to meter the whites. What settings do you use produce the most natural color? For my herpetological photogray, I have my own custom setting I like, but I havnt perfected it for aquashots. I've tried vivid, sharper, landscape, softer, direct print, normal, proboably every presetting in the menu, and the colors are still distorted. Here are some "far less than par" shots, so you can see what I'm talking about. Pre photoshop


http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/wellso.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/redlobo.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/Mantis-1.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/carnatiom.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/phyllia.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/welphyllia.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/DSC_1102.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/_DSC0928.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/carnatiom.jpg

The lobos and trachies espesially frustrate me.

[Phyllia131]

These ones, I am some what more satisfied with.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/_DSC1115.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/_DSC1114.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/ragila.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/pagoda.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/pagodaflower.jpg


And then two of the reptile pics that I already have uploaded, just because I mentioned it. I'm not too proud of them, but hey, I wasnt all that concerned with braketing my shots while photgraphing a six foot southern pacifc rattler from three feet away. ;)


<center>
<img src="http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/southpac1.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"><br><br>
<img src="http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g45/PhantomGreen131/DSC_0446.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"><br><br>
</center>

[Opcn]

Over exposure and dirty glass/water are what strike me as your main problems (along with some distortion) but I'm just barely into photography.

I really like the radula pic.

[reefman13]

Nice pictures:)

[BlueCorn]

The first few look like camera shake was involved. Were you using a tripod or hand-holding?

[Phyllia131]

Thanks for the compliments and advice so far, guys. Your right, beerguy. Iv'e never really noticed the camera shake before. My shutter speed was probably about 1/60th-1/125 of a second, with my apature closed down almost all the way(despite the shallow depth of field), so I wouldnt of even expected camera shake. However, I'm not used to using my huge macro lense without sufficient light.
And thanks, Opcn. one of my favorites too.