California Beach Dive Photo Competition

I was fortunate to place 1st in digital open macro in this year's competition with this shot taken with a Sigma 50mm lens:

The conditions were not that great. Besides the usual poor vis we had a bit of surge to deal with. I was happy I managed to get in a few good macro shots. I made two dive, used the WA setup on the second and did not get anything worth showing.

Here are a few of the out takes from the first dive:

In the sprite of the competition, I'm showing these with no changes other than resizing.

Great shots and congratulations. Where were you diving?

Way to go Herb - congrats on another great win and an excellent shot. It's really interesting to see shots "straight out of the camera."

I'd like to learn more about "how to shoot for a "straight out of the camera" photo contest. Did you shoot JPEG and set color, sharpening, etc to the highest setting?

For a contest where editing is allowed, I'd definitely shoot RAW, but the California Beach Dive Photo comp is different. Can you shoot RAW+Jpeg?

Cheers

James

Way to go Herb

Do you use a focus light? what kind and how is it mounted?

Karl

Thanks everyone.

I dove Wharf II, the same place I did last year. Given the conditions, there were only a couple of places I feel comfortable diving with that camera setup. The other popular choice was Breakwater. I think there were a total of 3 brave diver who went to Monastery.

I used the default setting, only because I hadn't thought ahead and tried out the higher contrast and saturation settings for that camera before the contest, and didn't want any last minute surprises. In hindsight I think I could have bumped it up a bit.

A focus light was necessary. It was dark under the pier even at less than 20' depth. I have a L&M Sunray mounted on top of the housing using the loc-line arm that came with the light. I made myself a red filter for it out of plastic wrapping and electrical tape, and I think that did make the light less intrusive to the critters.

MOD light mount

How did you mount the MOD light to the housing? Have a picture?

Nice stuff Herb.

MOD light mount

 

How did you mount the MOD light to the housing? Have a picture?

The light comes with all the needed parts, you just have to screw the base to one of the top mounting holes.

The extensions ring goes between the housing body and the macro port.

Thanks Herb on the MOD.

I was pretty clear on where the extention ring went but appreciate the feedback that it is needed. Thanks for the heads up. :wink:

*Brace for Stupid Question*

What is a MOD Light and how does it work?

/ps Very nice pictures

*Brace for Stupid Question*

What is a MOD Light and how does it work?

 

/ps Very nice pictures

The MOD light is the L&M dive light. Some use it for spotting also. It has two settings for intensity and is very small and compact but bright. Also a little pricy.

I fabbed up a plumbing pipe and red plastic from a binder to make my filter for it.

So it's just a dive light and that's it?

I noticed where Karl asked if he used a focus light. I can see how having a subject lit would help focus, so I was wodering if the MOD light was something special?

Do you have to turn it on, focus, then turn it off before taking the shot? Do you focus manually or by doing a 1/2 shutter depress?

I had always wondered about people that have those little Mini-Q lights attached to their cameras. I can't imagine having to twist the front to get the light to come on, aim the light at something that is probably moving while looking through a view finder, holding down a shutter 1/2 way, twist the focus light off, while tracking the subject and metering the shot, and then successfully catching the "moment".

Am I missing something?

It works fine left on at all time while shooting