Sealoch Anemone, Scotland - any tips?

Hiya

not been on this forum long, but I'm hoping to learn a lot here. I've recently upgraded my 400d to underwater use, and I've had it in for about 3 dives so far. I'm loving the improved image quality, but I'm also very aware that the learning curve is crazy-steep and any help would be great!

This is one shot that I quite like from a dive in Loch Long last weekend. Do you have any tips re. lighting, angle etc?

Taken with a Canon 400d + 60mm macro + single DS51 strobe to the left.

It's been slightly cropped, but not by a lot.

EXIF: F4, 1/200s, +1/3 exposure.

I like it too :-)

Dont know where you cropped, but it is quite tight around the anemone now. the anemone has room to it's left, while the sense of direction is to the right (the tentacles point there.

lighting is great, not harsh and I dont see any backscatter.

I like it too :-)

 

Dont know where you cropped, but it is quite tight around the anemone now. the anemone has room to it's left, while the sense of direction is to the right (the tentacles point there.

 

lighting is great, not harsh and I dont see any backscatter.

Thanks for your comments. This wasn't much of a crop, I just removed a bit to the right to push the anemone more off-centre. I'll try and get further back next time. I see what you mean about the movement, but there was only rock to the right and I think I prefer the dark background. Will keep an eye out for a better positioned anemone on my next dive!

Any other tips for next time?

Zan

I'm still learning as well.... Generally the "rule"would not be get further back, but get closer, and closer still. I was more thinking if it was waves rather then current, you could wait untill the tentacles swept to the left....

What Gerard said..very nicely done.

Sometimes what adds dramatic effect to the photo is a completely black background. You can probably just do a few slider adjustments and hid the shadows (lower left of anenome) in the black background. Something I haven't tried yet, but will is placing the strobe in front of the port and angled in. I've heard it creates a jet black background.

Cheers,

Any other tips for next time?

Zan

Hi Zan,

You might want to play with a smaller aperature to increase your depth of field. I notice the anemone is out of focus close. If you like the dark background try f16 or f22 and pump up the strobe. All depends on what you want to accomplish. I struggled with anemone's for years, couldn't swim past one without taking it's picture. Seemed like I was always disapointed though, they never came out like I envisioned. I started getting the image I was looking for when I got a lot closer and used a single strobe from some wierd angles. This isn't the same critter but you can get the idea. My son took this shot at f22 1/90, 100ISO hand holding the strobe over the top right.

I could spend a lot of dives on these guys, always different. I don't think it's ever a bad idea to play with the light. Another thought, if you want to stay back, you could think about going portrait next time. Your subject could handle it nicely and you'd cut out some sorta blah negative space.

Have Fun! Steve

You might try a side view to isolate the anemone from the bottom.

Thanks everyone, these are great comments and I'll give them a go this weekend hopefully when I'm back in the water. This was the only shot I had which got the whole anemone in the frame - the others were a bit chopped and didn't look good, but I guess there's a 'no-mans' land' where you're not far enough back or close enoguh in to get a shot. I'll def look at getting closer though.

As for the background, there's no shortage of these anemones around, so i'll see if I can find some in good locations and play about a bit.

the shutter speed\aperture were more or less left on auto this time round - I know my way around my camera, but getting the strobe right was enough of a challenge! Once I'm happier with using the lighting right, I'll probably start remembering about DOF and maybe even some 'creative' shutter speeds! hell, I got so wrapped up with the camera I forgot to switch my regs round as I was diving and now I've got one full 7l tank, and one with about 60 bar... Oops!

Thanks everyone for your time and advice. please let me know if there's anything else that I could try, otherwise I'll post some new shots after the weekend.

Cheers!

Zan