First Photos

Having all the pieces to finally start shooting UW in at least macro mode, I went out for the first time yesterday. Conditions were challenging and I need to get a new mask that will let me get closer to the viewfinder. Anyway, enough excuses. Here's a few shots - feel free to offer any constructive criticism, specially on how to improve my depth-of-field.

BTW - Shooting with a D70 in an Ikelite Housing; 60mm nikkor; flat port; single Ikelite ds125 strobe.

Thanks,

J.C.

Hi J.C. I recognize those guys!

Two things jump at me. First is, you seem to be shooting at extremely wide apertures. DOF is blurring too much of the subject for my taste. Except for the Blackeyed Gobi. That's in a perfect postion for minimum DOF and is a really nice pic.

The other is there seems to be some fogging??? It may be the result of the DOF making everything so blurry but especially the first shot looks like some of my old 5050 shots when the housing fogged up.

Rand

I think you are right Rand....these are shot at F4 1/60....works great for the fourth one down, but f16 to f22 would give you much more DOF

Karl

Post some EXIF data on the pics to, that will help a lot, it looks a lot like your shooting in auto mode?

Yep, you're all right. I couldn't get my mask in close enough to the viewfinder to see my meter so I gave up on manual mode all together. I switch to program mode but didn't think to try and force the aperture down.

I'll look into the fogging issue. I didn't have a silica pack in it, so it is possible.

So is it possible to get enough light to shoot at f16 with a single DS 125?

A single DS-125 will work great at almost any aperture and shutter speed for macro shooting with the 60mm.

Always use manual.....f16-f22 and 1/125 for starters....strobe at 1/2 power or TTL if you have it

Karl

Ok. I'm getting a smaller mask and going back out in a few days.

Thanks for the feedback!

Remember, your shooting digital so, shoot a few then adjust your settings and shoot some more, adjust and shoot again, then pick the best one out. I often shoot 15-20 of the same item adjusting and changing angles each time, then I choose the best at the end.

The crab is hilarious. Looks like a little anenome growing out of his right eye, bummer dude. Nice beard, though.

I usually shoot for f/22 with max strobes for macro photos, adjusting for the subject. (i.e. the white nudibranch might be more like f/18).

That crab had all kinds of things on him, barnacles, a shrimp, the anemone. Funny thing is I didn't notice a lot of the things until after I had seen the full size pic.