Blue Shark

This is my first time uploading a photo for critique. Looking for some feedback and constructive criticism.

This was shot with a Nikon D90/Tokina 10-17 FE using ISO 320, f/8, and 1/250 shutter speed. Twin YS-1D strobes set to 1/4 power or less.

Picture was shot mid-afternoon at surface in dark green water (Rhode Island). Shark was approximately 7 feet long, so struggled lighting entire shot during these "nose in" approaches. Also was my first time shooting with twin strobes, so I'm sure I still have a lot to learn.

The original picture was shot in RAW (~12 MP), but had to use a much smaller jpeg to get below the 1000k file attachment limitation.

Let me know what you think.

Regards, Matt

Love it Matt,

Blues are such gorgeous animals. If it was mine I would try to lighten it up just enough the see the dorsal a little more clearly. Either globally of locally. The fins are such a critical element to most folks expectations I'd see if I could make it a little more prominent.

Cheers

Steve - Thanks for the feedback. I'll work on the dorsal fin as soon as I find some time.

Matt

I'd be very happy with the image as it stands: the lighting emphasises the really nice reflection.

Nice capture... blue sharks are one of my favourite looking sharks.

just a small question... how did you get1/250 from your D90.. i have tried several times and cannot get it to do that.

thanks

Alastair -

I'm only guessing on this, but it could be your brand of strobes. I did a quick search of the issue and found most D90 users were limited to 1/200. I did find a post where a user was able to reach higher speeds land was using Sea & Sea strobes like myself. He could only get 1/200 with an IKE housing and IKE strobes, but could go higher when he switched to S&S strobes.

Since we have the same housing, that shouldn't be the issue. I don't have anything setup unusual in my camera settings that I'm aware of. I do use standard S&S sync cords versus optical.

I can actually shoot higher than 1/250, but start getting the black banding at 1/320.

Would be interesting if someone has access to both S&S and non-S&S strobes to see if that is the difference.

Matt

thanks Matt,

i have somehow managed to do it once when i was in the philipines odly enough using snoots and i think it was going up to 1/320 and i didn't notice any banding as a lot of the image was black anyhow, but since then i have not managed to replicate it, despite a lot of research! i am not sure it is the strobes but maybe the strobe settings.. by the tim i figure it out i will probably have upgraded haha..

i have both strobes i will borrow my wifes YS-110s and see if it will do it and let you know!

or jsut a thought what position do you have your switches inside your housing?

thanks

Alastair

or jsut a thought what position do you have your switches inside your housing?

 

Strangely enough, my switches are 1-3 down and 4 up. Strange because I don't recall that being a referenced setting or why I ended up with it. Worked fine for me however.

Matt