Lionfish, Devilfish and a Shark...

Last week I had a great dive in the Solitary Islands Marine Park - Australia. The following 4 shots were all taken on the 1 diveusing a CP5000 with 19mm lens and a single DS125.

Of these two Lionfish photo's below, which pic would you prefer? I prefer the first shot myself but most other people I've shown like the 2nd shot more...

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and here are the other two pics from the dive. The first image is of an eastern blue devilfish and the second is of a grey nurse shark (known as a sand tiger shark in the US).

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Nice shots!

Hard to say which lionfish shot is better. The first one has a better background, but the lighting is better on the second one.

Really nice shot of the shark.

Both shots are very nice, but I tend to like the 2nd one more.........more natural pose?

The eastern blue devilfish is beautiful....

Were you shooting in manual mode? what are the exposure figures?

Strobe on TTL?

Karl

Great Pics.

To the Lionfishes:

The First one has the better framing and is in this way better from a theoretical viewpoint but the lightning in the 2nd is much better and more emotional. Thats why most people will prefere it. Also the left to right direction is more pleaseant for our eye. Maybe an Arab would prefere the other one? I would tend to the 2nd.

Karl,

All shots were taken in manual mode. Camera settings are as follows:

Lionfish:

Camera Settings: 19mm Nikon lens, ISO 100, f6.7, 1/250 Shutter speed, WB: Auto

Strobe Settings: 1/4 Power

Blue Devil Fish: 19mm Nikon lens, ISO 100, f5.4, 1/125 Shutter speed, WB: Auto

Strobe Settings: 1/2 Power

Grey Nurse Shark:

Camera Settings: 19mm Nikon lens, ISO 100, f4, 1/60 Shutter speed, WB: Auto

Strobe Settings: 1/2 Power

Thanks for the comments on the Lionfish. I personally prefer the 1st shot because I like the background and the pose of the lionfish but the pose on the 2nd shot is probably more 'natural'.

The 2nd lionfish is very dramatic, really a nice photograph.

Well done!

Nice shots Dave.

I went there in early June and loved it. Who did you dive with? There were turtles and whales breaching. We also saw a manta on the surface.

I didn't know that the E. Blue Devil fish was found there too. I love them! But they're shy little buggers. See them all the time at Oak park.

Re: lion fish - the second one because of the left to right composition, isolation (makes it more dramatic) and the pose (not flat and has depth).

I like the second one better also, for many of the reasons cited above. But the Devil fish is my favorite. Any manipulation? Thanks for sharing these great shots. Crisp and clear.

TedJ

Okay, so everyone likes the 2nd Lionfish more than the first, I think I might use that in a photo comp over here. However I think I still prefer the first one...

In regards to manipulation, I've cropped the bottom of the 2nd Lionfish shot and around the Blue Devilfish. I also increased the red on the first lion fish shot.

ReyeR, in regards to who I was diving with, I was actually doing a work shark survey so I was diving off the work boat up there. I love the Solitary Islands, so much to see.

Here's one of the macro shots from up there. I've just ordered my 2nd DS125 from the states so I shouldn't have any shadow problems anymore.

I like the posing of the lion fish on the first photo. But both shots are great!

I envy you for the pic of the sandtiger shark.,...

Enjoyed your website, BTW.

TEdJ

Dave,

You haven't said why you prefer the first Lionfish?

My choice is the 2nd one because it doesn't have a distracting background/ bottom and the fish is in a more comfortable pose. The first Lionfish appears to be nearly verticle/upside down.

They both look good but the 2nd one does the job B)

PauP

Dave,

You haven't said why you prefer the first Lionfish?

I think I like Lionfish 1 because it's different. The Lionfish in image 2 is in a 'standard' lionfish pose, I like the way it is placed in Image 1 as it looks unusual with it's head down and appears to be just drifting around (it actually was just drifiting back and forth with the surge).

I also like image 1 as it provides some perspective with the boulders in the background, I think the background adds to the image.

Overall, it's the unusual pose of lionfish 1 that draws me to this pic...

But, I'm no judge! It just makes me think that when it comes down to photo comps it really depends on what the judges are looking for and what they personally like.

By the way, thanks to all for their comments.

Everything aside, you've got two nice shots.....wish they were mine!

Karl