New Picts from Santa Cruz Island

I wanted to share some of my latest pictures with all of you now that I have housed my dSLR. These are from my recent 3 day live aboard on the Conception out of Santa Barbara with Truth Aquatics to Santa Cruz Island. We were expecting to make it all the way out to San Miguel, but the threat of Santa Ana winds that helped to burn a lot of So. Cal. in the previous month were supposed to start up again. The captain didn't want to get stuck out there in such inclement weather.

I think that I'm finally getting the hang of a fully manual camera! As you might be able to guess, I have a thing for nudi's and my only lens is a 60mm, so far As usual, constructive criticism is welcome!

Sorry the are added as attachments. I don't have a place to put them on the internet yet. My next project

Cup Coral on Cobalt Blue Sponge

Anisodoris nobilis, Sea Lemon

Christmas Tree Worm

Painted Urticina Anemone

The blue that is a backdrop to the cup coral - the color is amazing!!

I've got to get out there and do some more cold water diving!

Thanks for posting - you are doing very well!!, Best, Carol

Some more.

Anisodoris Nobilis

Green Anemone, Anthopleura sola

Moon Jellyfish, Aurelia aurita

Giant Green Anemone, Antopleura xanthogrammica

Thanks Carol, Wait for it... wait for it...I've got a few more.

Giant Green Anemone

Tritonia festiva

Black Eyed Goby, they are everywhere, but this was a particularly good catch.

Last few... enjoy!

Flabellina iodinia, Spanish Shawl. You can see it's eye!

Common Blacksmith fish. Very pretty and not given enough credit, IMHO

Phidiana hiltoni

Rock scallop, yumm! They actually have eyes too! Look closely.

Great photos, especially the last few, can you help me out I have photoshop elements 5 and looking at the backgrounds of your photos how do you make them black or blue? If so using photoshop or any tips would be appreciated!! Cheers from Australia!!

Great pics, You inspired me as I'm doing the same trip/limited load TODAY Its going to be a rough ride.

Mr B, with the predicted weather this weekend and the surf the way it has been... uh, yea, you're in for a rough one. Good luck with vis! Hope you brought your macro lenses and an umbrella.

Junior8, you might get more responses if you start a topic of your own in "Techniques", but I'll give you a little of what I know since you asked. BTW, what camera and set-up are you using?

For shots like the Spanish Shawl and Blacksmith, f20, 1/160, the idea is to just paint the object with your strobes and use a small aperture and high enough shutter speed that any background light does not have time to make it onto the sensor.

The only things I did to the pictures in post processing was to use Auto Levels (not on those two) and increase the contrast. I found that a little more contrast helps to erase some backscatter that I couldn't avoid by correct strobe placement.

Hope this helps. There are also many good books out there to read. Try "The Underwater Photographer" 3rd edition by Martin Edge. He goes in depth about this technique and many others that may help you.

Many thanks IMSushi!!

Will send through a few images to see what you think. Happy diving!!