Sharing know-how about UK gardening

Pin-sharp images

A tripod prevents camera shake but is not suited to photographing fish, which are rarely in one place for long. You need to develop sports' photography techniques to avoid blurred images. Use fast shutter speeds, hold the camera steady, view your target through the viewfinder and pan the camera.

Avoid camera shake by standing squarely with feet apart, supporting the camera base in the palm of one hand with your fingers gripping the lens. With your other hand, grip the side of the camera and place your forefinger on the shutter button.

Pre-focusing

Pre-focus the lens and adjust the polarising filter to eliminate any reflections in the water where you intend to photograph your fish. Wait for your chosen fish to swim towards the photographic area. Look through the viewfinder and smoothly follow the fish to your photographic zone. When the Koi looks just right, press the shutter button.

Why pre-focus with a camera that already has auto-focus? Because I've discovered that I miss shots when the camera is busy trying to focus and won't let me release the shutter.

Take several shots if your camera has a motor drive, but keep panning as you do so. If your camera has a continuous focusing system, use that. With practice, you should soon be producing good quality shots for yourself, for entering competitions, and for sending to magazines.