Under the Water

[ktuli]

I think when I took these photos originally I did notice that one side was brighter than the other - but probably didn't appreciate how important strobe placement was at the time. The crab was a challenge just to aim the strobe into the crevice it was in - I couldn't convince it to come out. Can't say I have an excuse for the starfish

You've got me wondering if I've actually improved since the middle of last year so I'm going to have to look at some of my more recent photos and see what they're like! Always appreciate the advice Bill though - thanks!

Mal,

Strobe placement is one of those things that takes a long long time to figure out. When I do, I'll let you know!

Sometimes, when you have that tricky critter that is tucked into a crevice, if you can can remove your strobe and have a buddy position it for you manually (just don't tug on the sync cord too much), you can get much better results. My Ikelite strobes will actually easily detach the entire arm with just a the press of a button to unlock them, so I can hand them off to my wife to get better placement if needed.

The problem with strobe placement is that it is quite often difficult to spot while chimping underwater. The relative brightness of the LCD on the camera sometimes hides the issue until you're back on the boat.

Keep 'em coming though. Though I do have to say that, like Karl, you're making me jealous that I haven't been in the water recently, and don't have any chance of getting there any time soon.

- Bill

[Goldcoastgolfer]

I'm following this thread with great interest. All I need to do is learn to dive, buy the equipment (for photography as well as the diving), learn how to take pics.
At least I am in a good location.
Graham

It's definitely something I recommend highly Graham. It's a nice escape from the rat race and you feel like you're exploring a very different world!

Mal,

Strobe placement is one of those things that takes a long long time to figure out. When I do, I'll let you know!

Sometimes, when you have that tricky critter that is tucked into a crevice, if you can can remove your strobe and have a buddy position it for you manually (just don't tug on the sync cord too much), you can get much better results. My Ikelite strobes will actually easily detach the entire arm with just a the press of a button to unlock them, so I can hand them off to my wife to get better placement if needed.

The problem with strobe placement is that it is quite often difficult to spot while chimping underwater. The relative brightness of the LCD on the camera sometimes hides the issue until you're back on the boat.

Keep 'em coming though. Though I do have to say that, like Karl, you're making me jealous that I haven't been in the water recently, and don't have any chance of getting there any time soon.

- Bill

If you have a buddy that hangs around you and is willing to hold your strobe for you in different positions you're very lucky! It helps that Kerry dives now but she likes to explore her own thing as well - that and communicating under the water is challenging at the best of times

I have since those early days learnt to move the strobe around a lot more than I used to, along with changing the settings - although it seems to take an inordinate amount of time (and air) when I'm down there. This photo is one I took earlier this year on a more recent dive - a banded shrimp. I'd like to think there's a little bit of a difference between the earlier photos to how I take them now. But of course, these are more the exception than the norm!

[ktuli]

Mal,

Now that's a great shot! How did you get such high magnification? The focus is spot on! Nicely done.

- Bill

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Mal,

Now that's a great shot! How did you get such high magnification? The focus is spot on! Nicely done.

- Bill

Dyron 1.4x wet macro lens that Kerry got me for Christmas and a lot of patience as I surged backwards and forwards with the tidal currents

[Goldcoastgolfer]

In September last year we took a trip to Fiji and went diving at two sites - Plantation Pinnacle and The Fish Markets. Diving conditions were what I could only describe as perfect - 27C temperature in the water which made it comfortable enough to dive in shorts (which was lucky because they had no wet suits in my size!) and 20m visibility. Unfortunately, just before we left and unbeknownst to me, our new puppy decided to chew on the battery cord that charged my XZ-1's battery. I arrived in Fiji with very little battery power so was only able to take a small number of photos.

This one was at Plantation Pinnacles in a cave at the very bottom. It was actually upside down but I figured most people would like to see it in a normalish perspective.

[Goldcoastgolfer]

So I guess I'll pick up where I left off. The next few photos I post over the next couple of days are photos from dives I did over a year ago. I haven't had much of a chance to do much diving this in the last several months - but I'm hoping to rectify that this year.

[Goldcoastgolfer]

And I finally remembered how to post a photo again! Hooray!

[Donald]

And I finally remembered how to post a photo again! Hooray!

And you still know how to make good pictures!

[Karl]

Mal,

Some good pictures there and its great to see someone else get into underwater photography

I have been a bit slack of late with putting up some of my images

If I can give you some advice to strobe placement - I am not sure if you have one or two strobes; however,

1. For one strobe - place it directly above the camera housing with roughly a four finger gap. Have the edge of the strobe slightly back from the end of the port and angle it upwards slightly - test and adjust the angle until you are happy with the amount of light hitting the subject. Also you do not want the whole of the strobes beam / light hitting the subject but rather the edge of the beam as this will lesson blowouts, hotspots and backscatter.

2. For two strobes:

a. Macro - generally have the strobes on nice and close to the port and either angled in slightly or outwards slightly* as want the edge of the beams to overlap but not the whole beam.

b. For wide angle - pull the strobes as far away from the camera as possible and then either angled in slightly or outwards slightly*

*Note - depending on the brand of your strobes and whether you are using a diffusers or not depends on whether you need to angle them in or out. I use Sea & Sea YS110As with no diffusers and I need to have them angled in slightly and my mate uses Inon Z240s with diffusers and he has them angled out slightly - so test and adjust to find the best position for your strobes.

Once you have mastered that - then look at using snoots

Here are a couple of photos with me using my setup and trying out my home made fibre optic snoots:





Sorry about the dodgy quality but these were taken by my mate and his new EPM-1 in Olympus housing without strobes.

Here is an image of my setup ; however, I have made some slight modifications - it is an Olympus EM-5 in a Nauticam housing.



Hope this helps.

Karl

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Mal,

Some good pictures there and its great to see someone else get into underwater photography

I have been a bit slack of late with putting up some of my images

If I can give you some advice to strobe placement - I am not sure if you have one or two strobes; however,

1. For one strobe - place it directly above the camera housing with roughly a four finger gap. Have the edge of the strobe slightly back from the end of the port and angle it upwards slightly - test and adjust the angle until you are happy with the amount of light hitting the subject. Also you do not want the whole of the strobes beam / light hitting the subject but rather the edge of the beam as this will lesson blowouts, hotspots and backscatter.

2. For two strobes:

a. Macro - generally have the strobes on nice and close to the port and either angled in slightly or outwards slightly* as want the edge of the beams to overlap but not the whole beam.

b. For wide angle - pull the strobes as far away from the camera as possible and then either angled in slightly or outwards slightly*

*Note - depending on the brand of your strobes and whether you are using a diffusers or not depends on whether you need to angle them in or out. I use Sea & Sea YS110As with no diffusers and I need to have them angled in slightly and my mate uses Inon Z240s with diffusers and he has them angled out slightly - so test and adjust to find the best position for your strobes.

Once you have mastered that - then look at using snoots

Here are a couple of photos with me using my setup and trying out my home made fibre optic snoots:





Sorry about the dodgy quality but these were taken by my mate and his new EPM-1 in Olympus housing without strobes.

Here is an image of my setup ; however, I have made some slight modifications - it is an Olympus EM-5 in a Nauticam housing.



Hope this helps.

Karl

Thanks Karl - advice is always appreciated. I'm only using a cheap Olympus rig with a single strobe - can't justify the cost of a better rig at the moment. It works okay with macros where I place the strobe directly over the centre but I do tend to deliberately have the strobe to one size - I like the light fading off to give the subject a bit more of a 3D effect - that's just my personal preference. I know that most underwater photographers prefer to have the subject evenly lit though.

[FrankMi]

And I finally remembered how to post a photo again! Hooray!

Sweet! and even better, Mal (and Karl) - it looks like we'll be treated to more scenes from under the sea!

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Eels are always something that I've found a bit creepy looking. These are a few of my old shots from different times.





This one is of a pair I found - both of whom were trying to escape the camera consistently. I found one attempting to protect the other one most of the time.



They can be quite pretty sometimes...



And yet still look quite menacing...

[gregj1763]

The clarity of these underwater images always amazes me given the conditions they are taken under.
Keep them coming please

[Goldcoastgolfer]

The clarity of these underwater images always amazes me given the conditions they are taken under.
Keep them coming please

You have to really get in their face - and they don't always like it!

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Another photo of the banded shrimp - a wider view this time taken further back (hence the dark background). They tend to hang out in crevices.

[Goldcoastgolfer]

No idea what this is - some sort of crustacean. It had the longest antennae.

[Karl]

No idea what this is - some sort of crustacean. It had the longest antennae.

Its a crayfish - nice with garlic butter and a salad

Don't knock your camera setup - it is a good camera and will produce excellent images. Compacts are excellent for macro work so you have a benefit over DSLR users. Remember a camera is only a tool - it is your mindset that produces the image as the camera will only do what you make it do

With your strobe placement that is entirely up to you and if it what you want then stick with it - I know one person who never uses a strobe and produces excellent images.

Keep the images coming - just be aware it is addictive

Karl

[FrankMi]

The shape of the nose? on the eels is interesting but I particularly like the colours on the Banded Shrimp.

It must be exciting never knowing what you'll see next during one of these dives! Nice set, Mal.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice images.

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Its a crayfish - nice with garlic butter and a salad

Don't knock your camera setup - it is a good camera and will produce excellent images. Compacts are excellent for macro work so you have a benefit over DSLR users. Remember a camera is only a tool - it is your mindset that produces the image as the camera will only do what you make it do

With your strobe placement that is entirely up to you and if it what you want then stick with it - I know one person who never uses a strobe and produces excellent images.

Keep the images coming - just be aware it is addictive

Karl

It was addictive! But I haven't been diving more than twice in the last 12 months

The shape of the nose? on the eels is interesting but I particularly like the colours on the Banded Shrimp.

It must be exciting never knowing what you'll see next during one of these dives! Nice set, Mal.

Yes and no - sometimes you get in the water and there's absolutely nothing of interest to take a photo of. Other times the visibility is so bad you just don't bother. But those times when you have really clear visibility and some great things to take photos of are just magical