Tips for Basics & Big Animal Pics

[bplank]

I have a 6MP Canon PowerShot with the standard housing and then a 4 AA battery side strobe on a flexible arm that fires off a fiber optic cable when the camera flash fires. I took thousands of shots with the same set up on a 4MP Canon a few years ago, but don't remember what my best manual seetings were for F stop and shutter, does anybody have any base reccommendations to start with? The camera has a dive setting on it, but I'm skeptical about it.

Also, I'm going to be on the Solmar V out of Cabo San Lucas in a week and will be mostly shooting (hopefully) a lot of big animals like mantas, dolphins, seals, hammerheads, and other sharks. Should I be using different settings for those kinds of shots? I seem to recall that unless you are within 5 feet or so the strobe doesn't have any effect (other than potential backscatter) even at its highest power level. Is that right? Any tips for that classic silhouette shot with mantas or hammerheads above you?

Any thoughts would be EXTREMELY appreciated!

 

[aMc10]

The camera has a dive setting on it, but I'm skeptical about it.

Yeah, I wouldn't bother with it unless you're staying above 5 metres. You'll have much better results if you manually white balance.

 

[Rynomar]

Welcome to Scubaboard.

A agree that manually setting the white balance will work much better and really make your pictures look better.

Have fun.

 

[jkling17]

Forget the flash - manual white balance will give you great results. Get a good white photo slate. You may wish to invest in an Inon Wide Angle w/ AD connector for your digicam - wonderous equipment for $300.

 

[prskate2]

Get a wide angle and set manual white balance with the sand.

 

[fairybasslet]

Good ideas. I wish I had read this before Galapagos.

 

[Choyster]

If your camera supports it, just install the CHDK hack, shoot in RAW, and adjust the WB on your computer afterwards.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ca...e-added-functionality-some-canon-cameras.html

 

[PalmDivers]

Nice post, I use a Canon PowerShot. Always worked well for me.