St. Croix Photo's

[steviet02]

Hi,

I've got some new photo's from my first trip with the camera gear. Actually it was my first trip period and the first use of a camera underwater. In all I had a great time, had my buoyancy under control and after a day or two getting used to angling the strobe and getting the power setting for the situation correct I was able to get some pretty good shots.

If you want to see you can view them here.

As always, your constructive criticism is very much welcomed, I'm new to this and would like any feedback at all to get better.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Hetland]

Amazing results for your first try.

Not that I could do any better but:

• I saw some soft shots that could have used better focus. f8 is great for dark backgrounds, but you're also shooting at the softest spot on your camera, so your images won't be as sharp. Some of your photos are more compelling because of this choice, while others (I'm thinking the two octopus shots) could have been better if they were sharper. You can do some sharpening in post processing, but I'm not a fan, and always feel dirty when I do it lol. Experiment with different apertures
• A few shots where (imo at least) you were too far away from your subject (sometimes this can't be helped, but a frogfish for example will usually let you get right up in his business) Zoom with your fins, not with your lens.
• Think about composure. Top-down photos are not as exciting as side shots or shots at unusual angles.
  

Your lighting is really nice.

What is your camera/strobe set up?

 

[Mel Moncrieff]

Yes, very nice for a first effort. The one orange fish who is sitting like a lizard in the top left of the frame was especially nice. Keep up the good work.

Mel

 

[steviet02]

Amazing results for your first try.

Not that I could do any better but:

• I saw some soft shots that could have used better focus. f8 is great for dark backgrounds, but you're also shooting at the softest spot on your camera, so your images won't be as sharp. Some of your photos are more compelling because of this choice, while others (I'm thinking the two octopus shots) could have been better if they were sharper. You can do some sharpening in post processing, but I'm not a fan, and always feel dirty when I do it lol. Experiment with different apertures

Thanks for the input. I agree about the post processing, plus most of the time you can tell someone messed with it. Unfortunately, the camera I am using doesn't have much for Aperture choices when zoomed all the way out, and I didn't want the digital zoom. I'll have to experiment with that though because I may be able to slightly zoom and then have more aperture choices.

[*]A few shots where (imo at least) you were too far away from your subject (sometimes this can't be helped, but a frogfish for example will usually let you get right up in his business) Zoom with your fins, not with your lens.

The shot with the frog fish up close was right in his face, maybe a little too close (?) cause the lighting washed him out a bit. The macro lenses cause some serious vignetting so I was trying to get as close as possible.

[*]Think about composure. Top-down photos are not as exciting as side shots or shots at unusual angles.

Yeah, this is where an underwater photographers experience kicks in. As much as I was thinking about that when I was shooting, getting in that position is really difficult, especially with the fish, so I found out. Thats definitely something I will be practicing more.

[/LIST]

Your lighting is really nice.

What is your camera/strobe set up?

I'm using an SD990 P&S with the Inon D2000 strobe. Some of the shots, like the seahorses I was using stacked UCL165 macro lenses and also a UWL165 fisheye for some of the other wide angle, in other shots only the camera lens.

Thanks again for your input, gives me something to think about and try to practice.

 

[steviet02]

Yes, very nice for a first effort. The one orange fish who is sitting like a lizard in the top left of the frame was especially nice. Keep up the good work.

Mel

Thanks Mel. I think the fish you're talking about is the Red Lipped Batfish . That fish changed his pose after every shot, I am assuming the flash slightly spooked him, but not enough for him to take off. Really cool looking fish, the dive guide was really good at knowing where to look for the fish. If you ever get to St. Croix you gotta try a night dive at the Fredericksted Pier, just watch out for the Urchins!!

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Nice photos. Sent PM