Kelp shot (first time doing this!) [critique]

I went in the water today at Breakwater and in front of Hopkins and shot some kelp with my 15mm full-frame and one Ike DS-125 strobe (haven't gotten my replacements yet).

First kelp shots of my life!

Of course, that would be me and Jim Watt today on the boat -- not a shot of kelp. Here it is.

actually, this one is my favorite.

Those are nice shots. I have seen ones with the background in black that seem to really accentuate the kelp's greenish glow. The one I really like is from a Scubapro ad from a few years back. I have a poster of it.

That Watt is crazy!! In a wetsuit.

You seem to enjoy the drysuit diving for what it is worth. You have to try British Columbia diving sometime, you will not be disappointed. You would need extra storage as I think you would be filling drives like crazy. Ask Watt to show you his slide show presentation he has from when he shipped his boat there.

What a great composition Eric. A very pleasing, surreal effect.

I almost wish you could blend the two shots. I think the second one is a bit dark at the bottom and the first one is a bit light at the top right for my tastes.

but thats just nitpicking. These are really cool stuff!

Man, you are making me jealous Eric! Those are great shots and you can't really see ANY barreling at all. I noticed that the focus is "inside" the shot on the 2nd or 3rd bulb back. So the upper left on the first shot is OOF and I'm not sure if I like that or not. It does lend to the "surrealness" of the shot (is that a word???).

When I was in the Kelp last it was "6' this way, then 6' that way, and WHOA, watch out for that big rock!" So I missed out on these...:-(

Hope you guys have fun and dive safe!

James

Two quickie top-side shots..

These sea otters just hang out in the harbor --- they won't move! You have to drive around them.

paranoid harbor seals that avoided us in the water.

That Watt is crazy!! In a wetsuit.

El Nino. It's a toasty 55F .

I am going to have to disagree slightly with Watt's been said already...

I am greatly confused by the focus on both, even though the dome was touching the kelp it should all have been reasonably sharp. Did you have a diopter on the 15mm? I feel an area of sharpness across the width of the subject may have worked a little better.

Also I think the strobe is pointing back towards the camera slightly, emphasising some of the milt in the water. In instances like this you may want to try the strobe on tiny output medium f's or slightly wider with the arm fully extended or free hand.

Lighting subjects that close takes a lot of experimentation to perfect and its good to see this experimentation taking place, and that's what development is all about...

This absractism idea is great - It does produce nice "hangers" for the dining room.

Thanks for the Otter shots Eric, I miss these little guy's terribly - Must come back. I got some memories of them retrieving shellfish last time I was there.... Were you born then?

The shot with Eric and Jim.

Cousteau always had his touque "hat"(for you Americans)on in all his work. I think this picture could be improved with the scarf. LOL

(It is in the critique section)

Love the topside shots.

Jim thinks hypothermia is just a 'phase' you go through!!!

I spent enough time in 55F degree water. once you go dry you never go back!

I did see one Aussie come icediving with us in a 7MM wetsuit. That was a balmy 36F. Nuts!! I mean none left after that!

Yes, they become part of the throat at that kind if temperature!

Guess my Canadian US tour will get extended...

"Eric, any room in your 25' lot?

Guess my Canadian US tour will get extended...

 

"Eric, any room in your 25' lot?

of course! you're welcome to stay with me.

however, I'm 2-2.5 hours from Monterey, so it's a hefty drive. Watt has already told me that if I get a place in Monterey, he'll buy a boat for me to use.

I'll throw in for the motoer. No wait, that's too expensive....how about for the trailer? No...still too expensive. How about I buy the dive flag? :-)

Cheers

James

That Watt is crazy!! In a wetsuit.

"Have I ever told you how much I hate cold water?" - James D. Watt, every 5 minutes

OK, that's a fair swap for your Seychelles visit and I'll throw in the ropes and the 'Motherbuoy's'

Think of this for a shot: Otter ascending through the kelp with abalonie, sun streaming through the fronds from above - Almost an elfin landscape...

That's exactly what I heard from him on the boat. If I recall correctly from his slide show and talks about his trip, he did dive a drysuit in Port Hardy when he was there.

ps Bob I had a invite from Eric back in the summer also, I might have to extend my trip also. Have you seen the pictures of his place. Quite amazing. I'll bring the wine Eric! Now, where was I going to get the money to do this again?

We could all rent a pad, that would make it cheaper and, save Erics house and travel etc. Isn't Ronda's place down in that area Eric?