milisen

Hi Gary-

 

I like the detail, level of focus, and lack of backscatter.  The angle, however, could be improved.  For a shot like this, I like to position the camera in front of and as close to the subject as possible without losing crucial details.  These cleaner shrimps are easy to approach, you might try it next time you see one.

My initial thought has to do with the obvious backscatter issue.  You can solve this in a few ways.  First, you could lose to flash from the equation altogether.  If you are using a strobe and still getting scatter, try moving the strobe away from the lens.  Finally, a second strobe to help cancel out the scatter from the first would be the best option.

Actually, I thought the lost details in the tentacles from poor focus ruined the image as much as the wrong turn of the squid, but my coworkers couldn't get enough of this shot.  They like the detail in the spots on the head and think the thing is cute.  I have lots more of these little guys, but they insist this is their favorite.

Let me know what you think...

This little guy was spotted at a new site my buddy and I started diving at

night. There's not much down there but sand and weird critters like this. I'd

love to hear any comments you might suggest about getting creative in

fields of underwater sand.

I thought this was going to be another fisherman turned crappy photographer, then I opened it and couldn't look away.  I really like the details in the face, operculum and eye.  It almost looks like something out of In Fisherman or the cover of a Bass Pro Shops catalog.  Interesting idea, creatively done, I'd just find some cleaner water next time to help reduce the backscatter.

I have worked in aquariums for years and have RARELY managed any pictures from the tanks that wouldn't be better when shot in the wild.  The lighting is dim, the glass isn't as clean as you'd like, your camera is never sure where to focus, and you just can't get the angle you want on the creatures.  And even then, the rockwork and strange assemblage of creatures is often a dead giveaway that the image was of captive animals. In this case, you have a foxface in with a threadfin butterfly and a soldierfish that is out and about during the day.  

I love the strange whitish color of your subject (loggerhead?).  I am imagining a shot level and focused on the eye.  When shooting wildlife, always focus on the eye.  Also try increasing the aperture size to let in more light (faster shutterspeed) and blot out the background.  

Happy Shooting!

A massive pod of spinner dolphins swam over me one day while diving

offshore from Molokai. This is probably my favorite shot from that day, but

I'd love to hear any comments you might offer.

There are a bunch of non-photosynthetic coral species that look nearly identical to this orange cup coral and nearly all of them exist in places you wouldn't expect to see such bright color (under ledges, in caves, deep water).  Thanks for the kind words.

I was hoping for some pointers on how to improve my UW macro shots.

Any thoughts?

You're absolutely right, a person in the cage would have made it except that when people were in the cage, tour operators were throwing chum in the water and the sharks wanted nothing to do with us.  Uninterested animals make for uninteresting pictures.

I haven't lost my senses, they were never there to begin with.  A local company takes people offshore and puts them in cages with sharks, billing the experience as "extreme" and "dangerous."  In reality, we kayaked out and spent 45 minutes with these beautiful creatures without the cage.  Sure we were a little apprehensive at first (many topped 8 feet long), but towards the end we had all achieved some sense of peace watching twenty large sharks mill around.  They only look big and scary.

These guys are tough to shoot.  At least around here they seem to have a knack for coming out of the coral to steal a peek just when your camera is turned away.  The challenge makes Centropyge loricula my favorite angelfish to shoot.  Yours is an exceptional shot.  Where was this?

This represents one of my first attempts at combining human and natural

elements. I'd love any critiques you have to offer.

Any idea how to make it better?

I'd like to start off by saying this is better than I've ever done. That said, I feel the detail of the prey is lost against the bird.

Sure its a little blurred, off center, and you clipped his majestic wing right out. That water splash is in perfect focus and I'd be proud as heck of this shot. Brings me back to Connecticut and watching the ospreys hunt there. Don't sweat the small stuff.

Hi Jerry,

 

Thanks for the comment and your advice was actually some of the first such advice I received when doing any kind of above water photography. Make sure you horizons are level. This is very true and I agree wholeheartedly. This was taken a while back when I still had a lot to learn and has been on here since. Come to think of it, I still have a lot to learn. Thanks again.

I really appreciate any comments you have.

I'd love to hear any thoughts.

I am new to bird photography, so any recommendations or suggestions are

kindly appreciated.

Cool idea. Double strobes on either side of the subject and aimed slightly up and away from the substrate could have maintained that cool blue background while getting ore detail and better lighting on the subject.

I love the colors. You captured this moment well.

Opportunities like this come along and you have only seconds to get them

right, but any thoughts on improvement would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

The camera is a Canon A650IS.

 

Richard-I screwed with the levels a little, but when it is brighter, the reds come out really awkward. I have two problems. 1) This was taken at dusk and 2)I'm not very good at photoshop yet. Any idea how to get rid of the little red dots while still making the photo brighter?

I would love to see this as an HDR image, but as is the pic is still breathtaking. Well done!