Yellow Spotted Coral Guard Crab

Hey guys! Which of the two do you like better? I can't make up my mind. Any suggestions or critique would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Uncropped:

Cropped:

Shot with my Sea and Sea housed Fuji S2 and dual YS-90DX in TTL

aperture priority f19 @ 1/64th

first try with my Nikkor 60mm Micro

Difficult these little beggars to get inside the corals eh! 2nd shot works because there is a reduction in OF coral.

Where did you take this shot?

Here is a similar jobby that lives soley in Porites heads around the indio-pacific.

Taken with a Fuji 601 and internal strobe.

and another

You never know of difficult a particular shot can be until you try to actually produce it! This was at Sergeant Major on Lanai. I've often thought these guys were interesting subjects, but never tried to shoot one. It's not so hard to get in the coral with them as it is to light the crab without shadows. This is one of about 20 exposures that didn't have so much shadow from the coral cast upon the subject. Also, super buoyancy skills are required! This shot was taken from a hover completely upside down so I could get to the coral head without risking damage to surrounding coral. Oh yeah, and both arms were tied behind my back! :freak:

P.S. - Nice shots! I'm particularly fond of your 2nd one. Next time I'll be on the hunt for less a less reclusive crab. hehe

After looking at them some more, I think a larger DOF would have been nice.

The second picture of both diverhead and cybergoldfish is better im my opinion.

cybergoldfish second picture is amazing!

IMO, the cropped version is much better due to less distraction by out-of-focus coral.

Second shot is definitely better, although I think Bob's first shot is better than his second.

Tom

You never know of difficult a particular shot can be until you try to actually produce it! This was at Sergeant Major on Lanai.

As you mentioned Seargant Mayors (one of my favourite fish) I just remembered this shot taken by Lars. It was taken with our Coolpix gear near the surface, not strobed at all

Concerning your crab: I think you have to go back and redo it. These little guys are usually very shy. Maybe Bob, can tell us how he was able to approach the little fellow? I tried to shoot some crabs once and encoutered the same problem. they always try to hide in these shaded places...

...,maybe because everybode in the sea likes them? ..for dinner!

CU, Andi

Super cool photo!

...,maybe because everybode in the sea likes them? ..for dinner!

Well... I'm not so sure these guard crabs would be much for dinner... you'd need like about 800 of them to have yourself a cocktail! hehehe

A kinda designer Gaspacho