How to handle narrow shots?

This crab is wedged in tightly down between long arms of acropora coral and I dont know how to get the coral into any better focus. The fstop was at 13 as I only have one strobe and kept blacking out the exposure when I changed it. I am hoping to enter a very local and very amateur photo contest in the macro category (or creature) and I really like these little crabs. Is there a better way to capture these little guys? No matter how many shots I take at the angles where I can see them I cannot get the coral into focus. Is this considered bad?

I think you got it good, in macro the depth of field is very small compared to wide and the distance from the coral in front to the eyes of the crab is probably beyond the reach of your lens, but I think it looks better your way, it makes you focus on the crab harder and not the coral.

As written before me, there is no way to get is all in focus in such an image, you'll have to find a way to make this limitation to advance like lead the eye of the viewer to the main subject by the unsharp parts for example.

Would it be better to have a picture where the crab is more out of focus to try and get some of the coral polyps into the pictures like this:

or to back out even more like this shot?

My goal is to enter a picture for a very small, no prize-just for fun local contest in the area. I picked the crabs because I like to watch them scurry around the corals when I am out.

The first image works the best for me, but the scurrying part is hard to capture. Is it possible to try one like the first image, but looking a bit sideways in it.

In all images the crab just sits and stares at you. If you don't look perpendicular (cant believe I spelled that right in one go), but a wee bit more parallel to the crevice, you might get a little different look.

Gerard

The second works the best for me - IMHO the most striking feature of your crab are those beady white eyes lurking among the coral polyps, and pic 2 gets that "little monster" feeling best. I like Cerianthus' suggestion to change the angle though, and might try to find a happy medium between shots 1 and 2.

The second works the best for me - IMHO the most striking feature of your crab are those beady white eyes lurking among the coral polyps, and pic 2 gets that "little monster" feeling best. I like Cerianthus' suggestion to change the angle though, and might try to find a happy medium between shots 1 and 2.

Sorry, I meant the first pic in your second post. Still like the suggestion to change the angle - I might try moving the crab down in the frame a bit and shooting down on it a bit more, rather than straight on. Also, as far as focus, I'd err on the side of making the eyes sharp if you want to win contests - in my limited experience, that's an easy one for judges to eliminate you on.

I am flattered that you like my suggestion, but I will need to point out that I made it from the comfort of the computer table. I know that remembering these things under water is often very difficult. At least to me.....

I am flattered that you like my suggestion, but I will need to point out that I made it from the comfort of the computer table. I know that remembering these things under water is often very difficult. At least to me.....

I tried to do the offset shot but I cannot seem to figure out how to do the lighting. It is very hard to shoot through the arms of the coral to start with but the lighting issues...arrgh. Sometimes I wish I could use a flashlight to point along the lens direction to light things with. This is what typically happens when I try to do something creative, the image comes out blacked out.

I have been working hard to get a similar shot of some squat lobsters that live down between plates of a bryzoan. If you keep playing around with the strobe placement and camera angle you should be able to get light coming in from both sides (even just a little on the back of the subject helps).

For the squatties I also have my strobes further back and angled more than for other macro ... which has helped me minimise the foreground highlights.

I like the last shot you posted - nicely composed and sharp. Nice subject separation too

When I saw the first one my thought was if you had the dark area / crab running from lower left to upper right corner instead of horizontal accross the image - then that head on shot would IMHO work better

HTH

Leander

Lndr, are you using two strobes then? How do you get enough space for both light paths to illuminate the subject? Also, are you using a 105mm lens to be able to "stand off" a bit to give yourself more room for the lighting?

that last shot with the shadows is by far the best if you ask me!

Mysterious and a touch of light in the right place

Edit: oops

Lndr, are you using two strobes then? How do you get enough space for both light paths to illuminate the subject? Also, are you using a 105mm lens to be able to "stand off" a bit to give yourself more room for the lighting?

Yep 2 strobes - DS-125. No modelling light as it scares the squatties. A fair bit of hold your tounge to the left to get the lights in the right place

I don't have the luxury of a 105 ... I shoot 60 because that suits our poor vis more than being away from the subject

Not perfect, but this was my last attempt.

I have my left strobe on full and my right on 1/8. Using my second strobe like a fill flash. Its almost "too dark", but definitely not completely black

anyway its all IMHO

I took these on AV mode or aperture priority and the strobe was on TTL. Recently I ordered another arm to begin to use a second strobe I have (YS110) to get more light on the subject (is that a bad pun?). Are you using all your strobe then on manual mode? What is the purpose of fill light as compared to the higher powered strobe, isnt it the same?

Here are two more where I was unable to get the light onto the crab as intended. Does anyone make a ring-flash type strobe for underwater use? Its frustrating to spend so much time on shots and then find them to be so badly exposed.

i like the the last one.....reminds me of aliens, just hiding out of view, just enough glow of the eyes to get the imagination going:)

I also like the fourth one that you posted. nice.

Are you using all your strobe then on manual mode?

Yes Manual. With a 60mm lens @ F32 (on the lens) and 1/60 second.

What is the purpose of fill light as compared to the higher powered strobe, isnt it the same?

Its to stop the forground, which is very close to the lens and strobes, from over exposing and becoming distracting. And stops really harsh shadows on the "face" of the subject you would get with one strobe from the side of the animal like my shot.

I took these on AV mode or aperture priority and the strobe was on TTL.

I haven't had much luck with aperture priority. F11 & 1/60 was my starting point fo one YS90 on TTL and a 60mm macro lens.

Does anyone make a ring-flash type strobe for underwater use?

Lighting is always going to be a challenge with this subjet. The shape and reflectivity of the coral will mean each shot will vary somewhat even without changing settings.

Have fun

Leander

I kind of like the selective focus. The only thing I don't like is how the crab is dead center in the frame.