Tips for learning how to use an external strobe?

[DrSteve]

So we purchased a c5050 with D-180 external strobe from Detonate (thanks man!)

Anyway this will be my wife's camera. She is looking for some advice or rules of thumb on how to use the strobe underwater ie. what apperture to set the strobe to. Are there any rules like "Sunny 16" for underwater photography?

Cheers!

 

[jlyle]

So we purchased a c5050 with D-180 external strobe from Detonate (thanks man!)

Anyway this will be my wife's camera. She is looking for some advice or rules of thumb on how to use the strobe underwater ie. what apperture to set the strobe to. Are there any rules like "Sunny 16" for underwater photography?

Cheers!

One of the joys of digital u/w photography is that you have instant feedback. If the image is too dark/too light, alter the strobe power, change the shutter speed or aperture. In general, you control the background exposure with the shutter speed, the exposure with aperture, and use the strobe for fill light. When I first get in the water, I take a few pictures of the water to get the nice dark blue color that I want and then proceed from there. Take a picture of a rock to get all the variables right before blinding the fish.

This is a secret - I'll show you the secret handshake later - she will want to shoot u/w at an EV of -1.0 or less! If she is using P mode, adjust the EV first. If she is using manual mode, watch the EV number in the upper right hand corner of the LCD and adjust the shutter speed/aperture accordingly.

As ChrisM says, "Shoot until your finger bleeds!"

 

[diveborg]

As ChrisM says, "Shoot until your finger bleeds!"

Ouch, that sounds painful. Can't I just shoot until the 1 gig card is full?