Funnyface

This was a shot I took in Florida. Let me know what you think. I appreciate the critique. Lay it on me.

Sandy

Cute shot! It suffers from blown highlights around the face, however. Also, although the eyes are sharp, more depth would have helped.

A smaller aperture with the same strobe output might have helped with both issues.

Regards,

Another improvement would have been to zoom in further eliminating the rock "border" at the top and also the blown-out rock at the bottom. The rock distracts from the subject.

If you can't zoom in (and it's not always desirable) then heck, just get closer. It's a night dive right? That puffer was sleeping, wasn't she? Well, before you flashed her... :-)

It also would have helped if you had moved down a bit - perhaps positioning your camera in the area where the overexposed bit of rock appears.

This is a good shot, but it could have been a killer shot. That puffer's got personality!

Cheers

James

Apart from stating the obvious, which you should be more than aware of; this is where your defuser would have been benificial to soften the light preventing the harshness that has caused the burnout on the forehead & lips. Believe it or not there is a full 3 stops difference beween the white detail and that of the blue/grey.

Dropping the strobe back another 6" or one more stop down would have assisted this, but producing different results (both defused).

a. Focus emphasis on the head.

b. More depth.

As I mentioned in the last critique; practice by bracketing the strobe by moving its position back, forwards vertically and horizontally.

This will eventually allow you to judge any lighting senario that confronts you, and solve it 80% by strobe.

Ideally the shot would have benifited from being lower down with the strobe more bias to the near-side of the porcupinefish. However, I am more than aware of the logistics involved in capturing images of these timid creatures and appreciate that may have not been possible.

Finally, consider the 3rd party viewer when you compose the shots - Make it easier on them and the compliments quickly follow. Take more time on the spot or when editing to remove all of that superficial to the building of the finished image. Distraction is the down fall of even the most unique of subjects...

One of the most outstanding features of these fish is their beautiful eye structure and colouration.

I agree with the comments stated already. If you also try the shot totally front on it can look like he is smiling and can make for a interesting photo also.

And finally, it looks like the strobe was coming from above left. Basically onto the face. I think might have been better lit, assuming you dont have two strobes, if your strobe would have been moved to the top right part of the frame and pointed back towards the bottom left. It would have created a stronger shadow on the left side. But since you are not directly head on, and have the entire body in the frame, it would have provided a better light to the entire subject.

Thanks so much for all the feedback. It's great to hear how I can improve. I love this forum! Most people I show my pictures to can only say "I like that one".... and really give no feedback. I am learning from you guys and can't wait to get diving again. I will be diving in the Bahamas in 3 weeks on a live aboard. That will give me lots of practice. I can't wait.

I know I need to bracket more. I am often guilty of point and shoot photography underwater. I need to take more time and think about my shots a little more. Then try different exposures and stobe positions. I hope you will see some improvements in my pictures to come.

Thanks guys!

Sandy