how to shoot a field of jellyfish!!

I found an amazing spot where there's a field of upside down jellyfish but I need to figure out how to shoot it better. I shot this with my 17-55mm at 17mm and practically minimum focus with a +3 dioptre to correct for the 8" dome. I had this lens on cause i was looking for turtles.

The problem (i see at least...) is there's not enough separation. Even with the background out of focus (shot at f/4, low light) the infocus jelly is still too similar in colour and the pic just feels 'busy'. How can i show one in detail & the whole field at the same time.

Should I try the 10.5 or even the 10.5 + 1.4x tele to get closer focus & try to "force" the perspective as they say?? should i get another free diver to model in the shot? what about the 12-24 (though mines broken now...)?

lighting techniques? jellies are hard to pull detail out of...

I would appreciate any input. I can't wait to go back again, its so creepy, you feel like the lochness monster's gonna appear out of the green fog and swoop over the field of jellies...

Cheers,

Chris

Chris - very cool!

Have you tried using a fisheye and getting really, really close to one? The close subject will be primary, while everything that is more than 8-10 inches away will look tiny. You can also capture more of the horizon (which would be nicely curved) this way...

(oops -- I read that you have not tried it yet. but that's what i'd try. )

Or, get a buddy to hold a slaved strobe and fire it from the side, a bit further off. Or, maybe, light it from the top (further out), so the shadow of each jelly effectively cuts it out against the ground.

Or, get a buddy to hold a slaved strobe and fire it from the side, a bit further off. Or, maybe, light it from the top (further out), so the shadow of each jelly effectively cuts it out against the ground.

It is a wonderful sight, and I see why you are keen to get an image.

I second Eric's slave lighting suggestion, light through jellys is lovely.

Chris in Red Stick

It is a wonderful sight, and I see why you are keen to get an image.

 

I second Eric's slave lighting suggestion, light through jellys is lovely.

 

Chris in Red Stick

I was thinking about getting a free diver to go maybe 10 feet away in frame (fisheye) and point a slaved strobe over the field across the frame, to light the field up while I light one big in foreground. We'll see if it works. Hope the weather cooperates... thanx for the input. I'll post what i get when i get it. Cheers,

Chris

OK,

I know what you want to do, and the suggestions sound good, but as you're there, go put on the 60mm or 105mm and see if you can find one of these. They live on 'em. It would be very cool if they're that far north. Sorry if my comments are off base (as they are)

It looks quite amazing for photographic possibilities with the 10.5mm.

Cheers,

Marli

OK,

I know what you want to do, and the suggestions sound good, but as you're there, go put on the 60mm or 105mm and see if you can find one of these. They live on 'em. It would be very cool if they're that far north. Sorry if my comments are off base (as they are)

It looks quite amazing for photographic possibilities with the 10.5mm.

Cheers,

Marli

Wow, that's a gorgeous shrimp, i will look carefully next time when i'm with the 10.5 then shove on the macro if i find... thanx for the suggestion.

Chris

just my 2 cents, but _thee_ story is the field (of jellies). any pic not featuring that story is a squandered op. so if you want to also portray an individual, then you have to find a composition that will work at large F, small ap.

along these lines, my guess is you need to find a somewhat isolated individual (perhaps near the preiphery), compose towards the center of the field, and also have something to structure the background of fill the negative space above the field. awesome find by the way. i've seen these in new caledonia.