DESCRIPTION: Lionfish

Lionfish taken at Shark's Point, Phuket, Thailand.

Olympus 5050

PT-015

Inon Z-220

f6.3

1/250s

Macro mode

ISO 64

Critique and suggestions on how this shot could have been improved are most welcome. I'm still in the early stages of learning. Thanks.

I think that this is a very good image of a dwarf lionfish, which are rarely cooperative subjects. The main subject is all well lit, and I like the diagonal composition.

But imagine replacing the dwarf lionfish with a normal lionfish. Would this still be a good shot? I think it is a very publishable ID image, but otherwise it would be a bit dull.

You could try lengthening your exposure to get a blue rather than black background. Blue water would work well with the red fish (assuming that this was a daytime shot). In addition the fish is very parallel to the camera and the image would be improved if the fish was facing the camera a bit more and wasn't head down into the coral.

But as I said at the top, these are not usually easy subjects and you have done well to get down to eye level and produce a strong image.

Alex