I Did It...

[Erik Il Rosso]

Instead of waiting for the week-end to take my camera underwater for the first time I decided to anticipate and yesterday was the big day...

What can I say ???

Condition were not very good (low viz) and there was very little things to take a picture of...

My dive was completly different from the previous ones, most of the time I looked at the small display trying not to move while taking the pic...

It was also very difficult to find the right combination of shutter speed/F/flash power, I know I have to keep trying and that practice makes perfect...

Some of the pics I took were horrible, some over exposed and some other under exposed and they needed to be post processed...

Bottom line is that taking good pics underwater with just a basic camera and housing and without being in calm, hot and transparent water is not an easy task...

Moreover it seems that post processing the images is something that cannot be avoided and I did not take into account how much it will cost to buy something like PhotoShop Elements...

I had fun taking my first pics underwater but I have to rememeber that taking good pics is "Art" and it takes time to master it...

Ciao Erik Il Rosso

 

[ChillyWaters]

My dive was completly different from the previous ones, most of the time I looked at the small display trying not to move while taking the pic...

It was also very difficult to find the right combination of shutter speed/F/flash power, I know I have to keep trying and that practice makes perfect...

Some of the pics I took were horrible, some over exposed and some other under exposed and they needed to be post processed...

Bottom line is that taking good pics underwater with just a basic camera and housing and without being in calm, hot and transparent water is not an easy task...

Moreover it seems that post processing the images is something that cannot be avoided and I did not take into account how much it will cost to buy something like PhotoShop Elements...

I had fun taking my first pics underwater but I have to rememeber that taking good pics is "Art" and it takes time to master it...

It wasn't until my 3rd time down that I got some good pics. Mostly due to not being to stop my camera from fogging. So, don't expect brilliance your first time down.

Also, it sounds like you're trying to control too much of your camera. Put it in P mode, not M mode, so the camera will take care of most of that stuff for you. At least do this until you get everything else taken care of. One thing it a time!

I'm not big on Photoshop, mainly because I don't want to spend the time fiddling with my photos. If I take 30 photos, I just want to go in and correct the white balance, and then move on. Usually the result is very good anyways. Maybe later if I'm REALLY proud of something, and need a showstopper for the wall, then maybe I'll fiddle more with it.

As for flash, please try to take some with the flash, and some without. I get VERY good macro shots without the flash. Shoot in RAW, and set the white balance with Canon's Raw Converter (again, other tools to do this end up in a "washed out," dull look). But, do try with and without so you can decide which is better for yourself. I constantly shoot in low-viz, where lights are a must, yet my no-flash photos turn out fine -- they look ALL green before setting the white balance in the Raw Converter though. It's amazing the colour that can be recovered.

Anyways, congrats on your new toy.

- ChillyWaters

 

[Taxgeek]

Yup, you got it, it's veeery difficult. I've got a little Canon S1 IS, which is theoretically a still camera, but I've taken nothing but video with it so far since I can't seem to master the art of the still shot. ;-)

I'm trying to learn a little at a time, but it's very frustrating.

Keep at it, we'll learn together!
Taxgeek

 

[alijtaylor]

Erik Il Rosso
Hi, last Saturday I was back shore diving at the place I first used my canon s50. And while the visibility was better I also knew a huge amount more about how to use the camera and the diffence in shots over just 12 months was huge. So hang in there and keep practicing. I wondered a few times whether I had made a mistake buying the thing but now I wouldn't be without it. I would also suggest using a mode rather than manual (I used Av mainly) till you get the hang of some of the other things. Remember to set on macro up close etc etc. But mainly keep doing it. I am a fan on Photoshop elements and I would suggest investing in that before any other accessories like strobes or WALs.
Have fun and we look forward to your gallery.
Alison

 

[Erik Il Rosso]

good macro shots without the flash. Shoot in RAW, and set the white balance with Canon's Raw Converter (again, other tools to do this end up in a "washed out," dull look). But, do try with and without so you can decide which is better for yourself. I constantly shoot in low-viz, where lights are a must, yet my no-flash photos turn out fine -- they look ALL green before setting the white balance in the Raw Converter though. It's amazing the colour that can be recovered.

Ok, for the next shots I will move to P mode just for becoming confortable with diving with a camera...

Confirm that I shoot all the images in RAW but I could not use the Raw Converter stand alone program from Canon due to the fact that the S70 is not supported by the program...
I had to use the raw converter program bundled with ZoomBrowser EX...

One question regarding ZoomBrowser EX, which "White Balance" setting should I use when I process the image ???
I guess I should use "Underwater" but I am not sure...

Ciao Erik Il Rosso

 

[Erik Il Rosso]

So hang in there and keep practicing. I wondered a few times whether I had made a mistake buying the thing but now I wouldn't be without it.

You read my mind !!!

I started to think that I should have kept thing simple and take with me my torch only while diving...

Maybe I just need a little encouragment...

Ciao Erik Il Rosso

 

[ChillyWaters]

Ok, for the next shots I will move to P mode just for becoming confortable with diving with a camera...

Confirm that I shoot all the images in RAW but I could not use the Raw Converter stand alone program from Canon due to the fact that the S70 is not supported by the program...
I had to use the raw converter program bundled with ZoomBrowser EX...

One question regarding ZoomBrowser EX, which "White Balance" setting should I use when I process the image ???
I guess I should use "Underwater" but I am not sure...

Ciao Erik Il Rosso

I haven't used ZoomBrowser (I hate that program), but if it's converter is like Raw Converter, then you should be able to select an "eye drop" tool which allows you to point at a white (or grey or black) point on the picture, and it will adjust the colour to match it.

I hope it is as good as the Raw Converter for the S30, because I still feel all those Photoshop addicts are sure missing out on some sweet white balancing. Again, I feel Photoshop's whitebalancing results in a washed out look, unless, of course, you use flash. I like flash at times, but I like the look of photos without it -- the colour is rich, but everything doesn't have that "I'm glowing" look.

- ChillyWaters

 

[Erik Il Rosso]

I haven't used ZoomBrowser (I hate that program), but if it's converter is like Raw Converter, then you should be able to select an "eye drop" tool which allows you to point at a white (or grey or black) point on the picture, and it will adjust the colour to match it.

Confirm that the "Eye Drop" tool is present in ZoomBrowser and I played a bit with it with very interesting results...

Bear in mind that most of my images were over or under exposed so when I will play with a corrected exposed image and with the right "White" I think that this tool will be of invaluable help...

Thanks for all the hints, I owe you a beer whenever you want it...

Ciao Erik Il Rosso

 

[alcina]

It's harder than it looks whatever water you are shooting in!

I've gotta go the other way, though. Do not use P mode. Stick with M mode.

Instead, plan what you are going to shoot. If you are going to concentrate on macro, then you can set your aperture in advance and fiddle with the shutter, for instance. In fact, I would set your aperture first and then change only your shutter to control the background for whatever you are going for. I'd start around f4, 4.5 or 5.6 ish. Shutter around 1/100ish and then move from there. Those apertures are pretty versatile - especially when you are just starting out.

You won't learn much about getting better photos in P mode...unless you really need to work on task loading, body positioning and buoyancy.

BUT - first and foremost...you gotta have fun and enjoy doing it. So if P mode makes this all more enjoyable for you, go for it!

Looking forward to seeing some shots.

btw - when you download to your computer, never work on your original file. Save As and work on the copy...I save mine as psd files and work on those. After I have worked on the RAW file in the converter, of course.

 

[Erik Il Rosso]

Looking forward to seeing some shots.

You can check my gallery, I uploaded 4 pics...

Ciao Erik Il Rosso