Did I get this right?

Hi,

As I posted on another thread, the sum total of my underwater photography experience has been a 3 day trip with Optiquatics last week. I think the following is what I learned. Did I get it right?

In blue background shots use the fstop to get the background color you want.

Get Closer

Adjust the shutter speed so that things aren't blurry

Get closer

Put the strobes parallel to the plane of the lens, and put the subject in the intersection of the strobes cones.

Adjust the strobe level until the exposure is correct.

Does this sound right?

How do I know what f-stop to use if I don't have a blue water background.

Am I missing something else important?

Please blame me for any stupid things I say on me, and not Optiquatics.

Thanks,

Justin

Not bad. Get closer deserves a few more repeats.

Actually, shutter speed controls your background exposure more than aperture. They both work in conjunction but as a general rule, the darker the day ie background, slower the shutter speed and vice versa.

As for what f-stops you want, this is controlled by how far you are from your subject when using strobe, not by the background.

Good starting point for wide angle on most strobes:

f5.6 to f8 for 3 feet

8-11 for 2

11-16 for 1

and so forth

One more thing for you, try to shoot up with wide angle this gives a nice blue background, shooting down gives black so no real contrast. (unless close focus that is) Check out some anemone photos on my site for different close focus ideas, look under Invertebrates

Macro, shooting up is not as imortant, just try to get great composition. Don't shoot straight down (or you get flat photos) try to get even with the critter and concentrate focus on the eyes.