c4040: Settings for Shooting Sharks?

[rickydazla]

So I'm in the fortunate position to be diving Beqa Adventure Divers' tiger/bull/lemon/nurse/silver-tip/white-tip/black-tip/grey-reef shark feed in the not too distant future. It'll be my second trip. The first time I dived without camera as I wanted to enjoy the spectacle and as I knew I would be returning. Having seen how it's run I have a few ideas as to shots I would like to take and I think would be possible.

So, I use a c4040 with just its internal flash. I will be very close - right next to the feeder probably. I have never really taken shots like this before and would appreciate any tips on settings that might be appropriate and really any advice that anyone might have.

Ta


Rick

 

[Gilligan]

So I'm in the fortunate position to be diving Beqa Adventure Divers' tiger/bull/lemon/nurse/silver-tip/white-tip/black-tip/grey-reef shark feed in the not too distant future. It'll be my second trip. The first time I dived without camera as I wanted to enjoy the spectacle and as I knew I would be returning. Having seen how it's run I have a few ideas as to shots I would like to take and I think would be possible.

So, I use a c4040 with just its internal flash. I will be very close - right next to the feeder probably. I have never really taken shots like this before and would appreciate any tips on settings that might be appropriate and really any advice that anyone might have.

Ta


Rick

Ideally you should have a wide angle lens for shooting a large animal up close as it will not otherwise fit in the frame.

Absent of that the internal strobe is not effective beyond about three feet.

IMO you should shoot in the manual white balance mode without the strobe. Calibrate your white balance at the depth of the subjects. Don't get too far away from the subject or you will have a lot of digital noise in the photo.

Use the M mode and try F1/80 and F4 for starters. If the photo is too dark use lower F stops. If it's too light try higher F stops. If lightness is still a problem raise the shutter speed, although I doubt that will be an issue unless you are at 15 feet on a sunny day. Don't go slower than 1/60 on the shutter speed or the subject will blur as the speed won't be fast enough.

If you are within three feet of its head you are a braver man than me. Try the internal strobe at F5 and 1/100 or 1/125 (auto white balance). As you go deeper and lose ambient light try lower F stops.

Remember to switch your white balance to auto with the strobe or you will have red photos with it on manual white balance.

This photo was shot using manual white balance at about 60 feet

Good luck.

 

[rickydazla]

Nice one. Thanks. I'll give that a go, see what happens and come and smack you upside the head when they turn out rubbish! Just kidding, I'll be sure to post them up here...