Diver, ray and fish

Overall, I like this shot. What could have made it better (other than an unnipped tail on the ray, crikey!)?

D70 -- 1X DS125 -- 16mm -- ISO200 -- f8 @ 1/100 -- Malpelo, Columbia

Any comments very much welcomed.

All the best,

Chris

I think that letting a bit more ambient light on it would have helped, maybe just 1/2 or 1 stop to get an overall lighter blue water. But that can be done in Photoshop too, did you shoot this in RAW?

i agree with Luiz, blue seems a touch dark, diver almost lost in it, not bad at the top of the frame but really loses from middle to bottom..

I agree also. Here's a 1 minute adjustment using curves on your JPEG. You can do better starting with the raw file.

I kinda like the original post...the only thing that bothers me is the strobe position of the diver in the background.. )

M.

I agree also. Here's a 1 minute adjustment using curves on your JPEG. You can do better starting with the raw file.

I see where you are going with it, and appreciate the idea. I played with the RAW for a while, and I'm still not sure what I like best. Unless I futz with compositing, I lose contrast low if I boost contrast higher around the diver. And I like the way the ray's underbelly pops against the near black, in the original image. Because the GB channels pretty well span the range, all I can mess with is the gamma (or interior points in Curves).

Also, the diver *is* more visible in RGB that the sRGB I posted ... I need to learn more about finessing the conversions (mostly use Aperture rather than PS now).

What I really needed to do was *compose* the shot with the diver nearer the sun-dappled region and gotten a full silouhette, I think. By the way, this was at about 80 ft on an overcast day.

Thanks for the ideas and demo -- you got me thinking and playing.

Thanks again.

Chris

PS And yes, he always used the mighty insect strobe position.

I like manta/eagle rays more when shot a bit from the top and swimming away into the "void". Gives a great sense of space, freedom and "flying grace". This one is almost too close, like watching a performance from the first row. You get to see the actor in great detail but you mis the context that creates the play.

Bart

I think everyone summed it up I just wanted to add a clear shot of the eye on any picture can really add impact.

I think everyone summed it up I just wanted to add a clear shot of the eye on any picture can really add impact.

Agreed. Because of their flatitude and the eyes being on top, rays present a case where shooting down may be better, contrary to the "normal rule."

Thanks,

Chris

It has all been said, but I like the original post. While it is a little dark it adds some element of mystery for me. I imaging hearing scary music in the background.

i think it's not so much the light here, although that has a part to play, i think it would have benefitted from

a better composition of the ray. you've done well to get the two things in frame, and the ray so close, and as we've seen, some playing about in raw can get the blues right. however i think what really sets this back from being a cracker is the ray....its too complicating on the eye. i think if you had waited a second for the 'wings' to be a bit more balanced, either up or down, you would have created a less complicating ray.

as it is, we can neither settle on its underside nor its topside...does that make sense?

regards,

mark.

A reverse grauated density filter would add more gradation in the blue water from bottom to top. Then I would mask off the ray. Bump up the exposure and desaturate it.

All,

Some very interesting points. The 'complicated' shape of ray is beautiful, and easy to decipher in motion -- but it may be too much in still -- good point. As George suggests, a reverse grad does help here -- though noise starts to be visible in the flat-hued blue as that area is brightened.

Thanks for all the ideas.

Chris