I am terrible at photography :(

[SeaLife Joe]

The ambient light in pools can be deceiving so that could also be one of the problems.

There are a lot of good points being made here but the most important is to just keep shooting! And remember to smile and enjoy the diving!

If you want to send me some pics to my email address, i can take a look at them for you.

Joe

 

[DandyDon]

Send pics to Joe & Sabbath. I'm sure they're too large to attach here and it's best to work with un-reduced photos. You may have to send only two to an email (I know; some people only have 10 Mb mailboxes - gawd) but send them a few.

Did you guys PM your email addies? I'd like to know what y'all see. Post reduced copies with your findings if you would...?

 

[sabbath999]

Actually all I need to do is see a glimpse of what they look like and read the EXIF file. As long as your software doesn't strip it out then the settings are all contained in the file.

I always post my EXIF data along with my shots of forums.

 

[firstdive2005]

Hi I have the dc600 and the d800. I dont take the greatest shots but some make it through. I have shot every crack, piece of gum, band-aid, person swimming by and and floaty thing in the pool I use to practise in. I still get crappy shots with all sorts of funny things I cant explain. I have tried to use the instructions to no avail. I'm just going to have to take lessons. I was going to do that on Coz when I was just there but I thought I could teach myself. Not. Also I have two sealife strobes that I cant seem to get to work for me. They are the cheaper ones.
So most of my shots where done with no strobe, they turned out very good for the most part. The videos are great. I love the 800 for that.
I wish sealife would do a teaching thing on Cozumel, cause I would do that dive.

 

[DandyDon]

Firstdive, have you connected the strobes with Flash Links? What's the problem? They should test fire, then work. "...I cant seem to get to work for me" doesn't tell anything about the problem.

Did you buy all these from an LDS who won't help you?

Did you buy these from other sources without manuals?

You can download the manuals; have you studied them well?

Are you up to date on firmware updates from the Sealife site?​

I think you should contact Sabbath above about emailing him some pics for his professional look. Nice of him to offer. I know what Exif data are but he can read it. I don't know if the other guy here ever answered him.

 

[firstdive2005]

Hi Dandy Don! The strobes fire, the tests fire. I just seem to have everything white when I am close to something. They work when I am in a wreck and am not shooting macro, or in a cavern or swim-through and I am not shooting macro. I cant turn down the intensity of the flash. There is more to my problem I think. I probably should just take a good land photo course to really understand photography. For now I do have some shots that are pretty cool, they are fluke shots though. Thanks for the info though.

 

[Scuba-Stu]

Don't be too upset. Its a difficult thing to do. You will get better the more you shoot and by using a digital camera you're learning curve will be pretty short. At least you didn't have to learn to shoot on a nik V like I did. You mentioned shooting in Puget Sound. If you are unable to afford a strobe another less expensive investment might be a green water filter. While it may not be necessary for all conditions, such as macro photography, it can 'ungreen' a lot of wider shots such as those of your dive buddies.

 

[DandyDon]

Hi Dandy Don! The strobes fire, the tests fire. I just seem to have everything white when I am close to something. They work when I am in a wreck and am not shooting macro, or in a cavern or swim-through and I am not shooting macro. I cant turn down the intensity of the flash. There is more to my problem I think. I probably should just take a good land photo course to really understand photography. For now I do have some shots that are pretty cool, they are fluke shots though. Thanks for the info though.

Since you didn't answer my questions, I can only guess that you're bluffing much like I did with my first couple of Sealife cameras. If I am wrong, sorry - but you didn't say. The manuals are essential study material, I think - and not excessive at all. Indeed, I often wish they covered more.

I've not shot the DC600 or Dc800. My DC500 and be adjusted between flashes for how much light they accept; I don't know if the later models can be done so - kinda doubt it since they were designed to work more with the Digital Flash I think? You tell me...?

If not adjustable, then turn flash away from a direct hit on light colored reefs, etc. On white sand or reef, I might pull the flash link off and use internal flash only.

Swimming pool practices seems to have a lot of limits. I haven't dived a pool in maybe 8 years, but that sounds like the case.

Which photoshop program do you use?

 

[FlyinV]

I would like to apologize to Sealife cameras.
Trying the camera in the pool was a waste of time to understand how great it is.

The DC800 is a FANTASTIC camera even an photography challenged person (me) can use.

I went to Puget Sound today and took my first pictures "in the wild" and they are better then I could imagine. What will they look like when I figure it out -- I can't wait.

No strobes just a camera and a fairly new diver.

Thanks Sealife!

 

[DandyDon]

I would like to apologize to Sealife cameras.
Trying the camera in the pool was a waste of time to understand how great it is.

Thanks, and nice snaps! Like I said, I haven't shot a camera in a pool, but I am started to gather than while you can test equipment in one, you can't learn photography in a pool.

I wonder, since lighting and viz in most pools are so much better than most sea dives, certainly much better than in Puget, should one use a put it on Auto rather than Sea?