[Silver Dragon]

Advice please...
I am going to do some shots of the pond (In my back garden)
Its 10ft by 10ft, and 5ft deep at the deep end, 3ft at the shallows.
Its crystal clear water (The filter makes it almost good enough to drink...) so you can see the bottom, useful, as I have some Sturgeon down there, alongside the Koi carp.
The pond is just about maturing, not overgrown, 2yrs since a major rebuild, planting is growing but fresh, fish are 1yr to approx 3 yrs old, there are some older mixed goldfish up to 10yrs old from previous residents of the house, they are not as big as the largest 3yr older Koi (just over 1ft long...)

I am thinking the 18-55 lens and the Polarizing filter to start with....
Tripod as well, so I can set it up and change things to compare shots...

I have mentioned previously that this is the year I want to learn what ALL the buttons on this camera do, so want to use this as a start...

Suggestions please?....

Apart from some shots of flowers on Macro, and the obligatory "Holiday" shots of the kids/family etc, this is a good 10 yards (to 1o miles?...lol...) closer than anything I am used to....

[Markulous]

Sounds great! Aside from the polariser the only thing I'd suggest is manual focus as AF can be thrown by water/reflections

[Dabhand16]

You might not need to use the polorising filter if you can get the light right. At certain times of the day, and with the right angle I can also see the bottom of my pond with no reflections, so I can save the stop or two that I would loose with the filter.

[the_frog]

I believe that it's best done in a barrel.

[kevinandseri]

We often use our own shadows when shooting Newts in a local pond. Gets rid of reflections, the true enemy on bright sunny days :-)

NB: We may be available for shadow duty for a small fee LOL

You speak of learning the buttons, don't forget the DOF preview button, if your camera has one, an invaluable tool.

[Bundybear]

Being a bit of a piscatorial freak I would suggest the use of a Bathyscope. Whats that I hear you say...basically an object that is cylindrical that displaces its volume in water allowing you to see under the water. They can be purchased from chandleries or you coul make your own. I purchased one and relined the inside with a white material as the orange plays all sorts of tricks with colour balance.

[Bundybear]

Google bathyscope for ideas