Need some tips about a photoshooting -

Hi

Between the 25 okt & 8 nov, i will be in Egypt Dahab to shoot a International freediving competition.

Becauce it will be vey busy around blue hole I was thinking to to take some photos while I am scubadiving!!! This will be my first time to doit it like this!!!

I was thinking to hanging on a rope (Blue Hole is ca 100 meters deep ) arount 10 - 15 meters and take photos from freedivers while they acent and decent.

I will use available light 15mm lens and Alexs filter.

Now my question

The photos that i like to take are:

1. freediver deccent (camera facing the surface)

2. freediver pass me & deccent to the abyss (camera facing straight ahead & later down)

The same when the freediver is comming back

The only time that I have time to change the settings is when i am waiting for the freediver to comming back.

Ho I deal best with whitebalance and the diferent light situations

I like to take a photo off every athlet on the way down & up!!

Any tips etc.. are welcome. Alex you have take photos from mandy and Kirk so you know what i am saying..

I know "STROBE" is a solution but i am a Dogma photograf maybe later for fill light

Since you will be in the open water i would suggest attaching an off white slate on a retractable cord to your BC or camera. That way you can use something to WB with as there will be nothing else to use in the middle of nowhere....

Hi Mike,

Prob a silly question, but not being an expert on WBing in camera, why would you use an "off white" slate rather than a standard white one?

Gives a slightly warmer perspective than pure white. HOwever, with RAW it probably doesn't matter as much as is easy to fiddle.

In video i try to get it right in camera as colour correction is a pain and degrades the quality as well

Thanks guys I have a gray card that i will use (or my hand alla alex)

The point is that if you white balance with magic filter you must have the camera facing the same way like you shoot... but i will change perspectives ll the time. Hmmmm

Sold I whtie balance normaly (with camera straight) and fix later the raw files?

Lambis

Make sure that you are hanging up light of the freedivers. That way you can shoot them with the ambient light shining on to them all the time.

Stay at one depth - I would stay shallow so you have the longest time with your air (waiting for competition dives is very boring!). About 10m. At this depth they will still be going slowly as they will be negative.

Set WB on the grey card at that depth and if you are interested in recording all the competitors (rather than taking beautiful images) then keep everything the same each time. Just one shot on the way down, one on the way up. Both at the same angle.

I would also use your grey card to set your exposure. Set it on Manual and then leave it alone. It should be the same for most of the dive. And then find a camera angle that gives you the best blue. About 5-10 degrees slightly downward. If possible go for a shutter speed of 1/60-1/125th so you don't get movement blur in the images.

I would favour the 15/16mm to the 10.5mm for this type of shot.

Alex

....hanging up light of the freedivers?? I dont get it!!! Do you say shat somedody else put light them?

Yes Alex 16mm will be and I was thinking the same that maybe i take 2 pictures only way down & way up and just wait for the perfect photo.

You are right 10 meters sound better (I was not thinking on my air)

that with..I would also use your grey card to set your exposure... what are you saying??

Lambis

I believe he is thinking about having the the sun in your back then facing the freedivers

I always have the sun behind me whe I shoot with Alex filter!!

I think I am to tired today tha read and get the messages!!

Glad to see you are still at it! I remember last time you had some questions with your Oly. I haven't been on Wetpixel in a long time...I think I will be back a bit now...I had gotten out of it because even tho I selected the Remember Me box, it never did, so it was hard tracking topics and replying. Now it seems to be working and I think I will be haunting the boards over here...nice to see ya!

Welcome back John! I guess I will see you in Hawaii in a few weeks, I am moving to Kaneohe in the end of november or begining of december.

Welcome back John. Yes I am still at it!

I have a great time in Dahab and I hope I will take some good Photos

Lambis