I took this in Cozumel. I was hanging onto a finger hold as long as I could to just get one photo. The only way I could do it was to turn the camera sideways and the result was my strobe shooting from below. At first I lamented that I blew out the chin area then the photo kind of grew on me. It reminds me of when we were kids and placed a flash light below our chin to make our faces look weird so we could spook our friends. Anyway, I'd like to say I intended the spooky result but it was a mere accident.
I like it.
I like it too. Might be cropped a bit tight for my tastes. I did the same thing in Bonaire this year.
Eels are easy to make look spooky!
I don't feel drawn into the image. I think more eye contact would help with that. I like the idea of the darkness to the shot but you don't get pulled into that look in my opinion as it sits.
IMHO
Todd
I don't feel drawn into the image. I think more eye contact would help with that. I like the idea of the darkness to the shot but you don't get pulled into that look in my opinion as it sits.
I like the pic and would keep it if I shot it. That said, I agree with the above - doesn't really draw me in. My eye seems to want to go to the top third, and there's nothing there; the hot spot on the bottom is also a little distracting. For me, the strongest design element is the juxtaposition of the strong textures/colors of the two corals with the spotted moray.
I really like the lighting effect from below, but I think the impact is less shooting down on the eel. If the camera was lower, at the eel's eye level, then eye contact could be made and the lighting effect would really shine.
Obviously getting low enough to be at the subjects eye level can be frustratingly difficult and often impossible, but I feel it is such a key element.
