Obtaining more balance with a blue water backgound

[Rick Murry]

Hi
I have a SD800 setup and am wondering how to get more balanced (darker) bluewater background and still be able to illuminate my foreground subject adequetely. I know there is a stop down control on the manual mode...but does that make it difficult to get enough light on the foreground image. I am using a sea and sea ys27 strobe...Do I need a second strobe maybe?

Rick Murry

 

[pakman]

hmm, I'm guessing the SD800 doesn't have manual control. If you're lighting the subject with a strobe and want keep a blue background, ideally you would be metering your exposure for the blue. But without manual shutter/ aperture controls on the camera, this could be a little tricky... Is there any Sport Scene mode that would lock in a fast shutter? Or even better, can you make ev adjustments? - say dial it down ev -2? Maybe try a shot a -1 ev, then -2 ev to see what blues you are getting.

Whether or not you need a second strobe depends on whether your current strobe is doing a sufficient job of lighting the foreground subject while metering the right exposure for the blue background.

Just throwing out some ideas...

 

[spt29970]

Hi
I have a SD800 setup and am wondering how to get more balanced (darker) bluewater background and still be able to illuminate my foreground subject adequetely. I know there is a stop down control on the manual mode...but does that make it difficult to get enough light on the foreground image. I am using a sea and sea ys27 strobe...Do I need a second strobe maybe?

You have the theory right. Underexpose the background by a stop or two and fill in the foreground with your flash. I suspect that problem is likely that your ys27 isn't bright enough for what you are doing. Let me guess; it works okay when you are really close, but loses it when you try a wide angle shot?

A second strobe would certainly help, but a brighter strobe is also indicated. In the mean time get closer to your foreground subjects so that the strobe will adequately fill them. Remember, the strobe light falls off as R^2. If you get 2x closer, the strobe will illuminate the subject 4x brighter.

 

[herman]

check out this thread, it may help.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/underwater-photography/214500-help-manual-camera-settings.html

 

[Rick Murry]

Thanks for the advice...Yes I don't have manual controls as with a SLR or some of the more sophisticated point and shoots.....but I can dial down ev -1 --2. so I will try that. I guess next year it will be time to upgrade....for years I shot with a Nikonos V set up then it got stolen a few years ago at JFK airport and I should have jumped up to a better digital package right away...but hindsight is always 20/20....

Rick Murry

 

[herman]

You might try dropping the EV down as much as you can and then upping the strobe power a notch or 2 to make up the difference in the near field.

 

[Rick Murry]

I am leaving tommorow, Friday for Utila.....I will try your advise and let you know how it worked

Thanks again
Rick Murry