New to underwater photography

Hi all.

I fairly new to underwater imaging. Just finished my 2nd trip using a Sony NEX 5 in Nauticam.

I would like to get some opinions on the shots I took on my very first foto trip in 2011.

Keep smiling, Dragonhead, Sony NEX-5 18-55mm at 55, single Inon S-2000.

Directional advice, Boxer-shrimp, sony NEX-5 18-55mm@55 + Inon UCL165, single S-2000

Hangtime, divers at safety stop, Sony NEX-5 16mm+VCL-ECF, available light.

Approaching Dolphins, Sony NEX-5 16mm + VCL-ECF, available light

Dolphins, NEX-5 16mm + VCL-ECF, available light.

Thanks for comments in advance.

Andy.

Hi Andy,

I love the sunball and rays you were able to get with the Sony, very nice. Next time you have the situation you had with the Dragonhead try playing with different strobe positions and see if you can avoid the blue on the right side of the image. A high centered strobe position might have worked for you. You might like a touch less exposure (strobe power) too. Looks like you were focused on the mouth and not the eyes. Tough situation because you want to get all the frills under the chin too. This kind of shot often can be a candidate for a vignette where you darken the frame around the subject to focus the viewer on the fish and not the coral. Something like this.

Where did you shoot these?

Steve

Love the wide angle shots

Thx Steve for the suggestions.

This trip I had been doing the beginners misstakes trying to shoot with S program which was causing the aperature going wide open (Dragonhead has gone f5.6). The strobe had been at TTL. So overall the depth of field had been too narrow and the image too bright. Since I got a 2nd strobe and I followed the UW Photoguide suggestions to shoot all manual. But this requires practice.....

Not a bad start! Nice rays and blue water.

Another hint might be to focus on the eyes a bit more!

It is very nicely done in the last Picture of the Dolphins.

/Erik

Thx for the positive feedback and suggestions.

Almost forgot to answer Steves last question....

Shots had been taken at dive spots around Soma Bay, Safaga, Egypt.

(Dragonhead @ Tobia Arbaa, Boxer Shrimp @ Ras Abu Soma, Dolphins @ Tobia Kebir).