Bahamas Tiger Sharks and Dolphins

A couple from my recent trip.

Hi Todd,

Holy **** that first shot is great! How did you light the shark without totally blowing out the small fishes? Very nice. Do you have an online gallery set up?

What did you think of your first time out w/ the DSLR rig? Did the setup meet or exceed your expectations? Did the DSLR forum here help you get started on the right foot?

I'm scheduled to make this trip next year w/ Eric and I'm really excited. I wish I could have made it this year either w/ you or Eric.

Cheers

James

Hi Todd,

 

Holy **** that first shot is great!  How did you light the shark without totally blowing out the small fishes?  Very nice.  Do you have an online gallery set up?

 

What did you think of your first time out w/ the DSLR rig?  Did the setup meet or exceed your expectations?  Did the DSLR forum here help you get started on the right foot?

 

I'm scheduled to make this trip next year w/ Eric and I'm really excited.  I wish I could have made it this year either w/ you or Eric.

 

Cheers

James

I was shooting based on the white underside of the shark so the reflective nature of the silversides were guessed to be close enough to work. And I closed my eyes and pressed the shutter with my fingers crossed. I really had a blast shooting with the set-up!

No full gallery yet as I only worked through about a dozen shots. I usually try not to edit too much while on trips and just enjoy the trip. I use the computer to ensure I am not totally buggering stuff up while I am there. I should say, to correct the stuff I bugger up.

Dolphins are tough to shoot and tiring. You swim and swim and swim and dive and dive and dive and then they buzz you at light speed to have you miss the shot. Rapid fire was handy but I needed to employ if faster.

I really found the DSLR no different from my 5000 in size and use of. The pluses were battery life for sure. The new strobes also had a faster recycle which I found useful at times. Distance from subject can be a benefit with the macros to capture some subjects that were illusive in the past.

The Aquatica housing was excellent!

I had no issues with it and, it looks cool in the water too. Everyone else was shooting Sea and Sea. All buttons lined up and it just felt right underwater. I was curious as to why the lockdown screw was not put on the focus point button instead of the exposure lock as Herb has mentioned in his article. I would love to have them switched.

I liked the coverage the Inon's presented but appreciated the recycle time more when the action picked up. They worked flawlessly and I was extremely happy with them.

As for help in the forums, I suppose, but I had help from many different angles and people, many who are members of Wetpixel so sure I guess it was a help.

I was worried it would be a big step up but in reality, I did not find it overwhelming like I thought it may be. The histogram on the Rebel vs the 5000 was immensely helpful. I also had resources of 4 or 5 pros on the boat. (if you consider Abernethy a pro also) That was very useful in many ways.

Even from model standpoints

Jennifer Mondragon

Hey Todd, these are outstanding. Any chance you could post a larger version of the shot with the model in it somewhere? I'd like to see the detail you're getting on the coral and sponges.

I was going to say great first outing, but that would have implied these shots weren't great by ANY standards. Excellent work...

Tom

Hey Todd,

These pics are wonderful! I loved each of them.

Even if you don't live from that, you are a real pro!

I'm happy you liked the A300 Aquatica housing, since I'm planning to buy the D70 one's, which is quite similar to your's.

Continue to make great pics like those!

Michel

Hey Todd, these are outstanding.  Any chance you could post a larger version of the shot with the model in it somewhere?  I'd like to see the detail you're getting on the coral and sponges.

 

I was going to say great first outing, but that would have implied these shots weren't great by ANY standards.  Excellent work...

 

Tom

I'll see what I can do. Maybe a crop will do the trip.

A crop would do fine.

Here is just a coral shot. I don't think the other was going to get you what you were looking for in terms of focus and detail.

I hope this helps.

Todd, very nice lighting on the sponge shot above well done

Karl

Thank you. I loved the new Inon strobes. I found they worked excellent for the WA shots I was attempting.

As for lighting...

I had the same thoughts in mind on some other sponge shots only to be confused. I kept looking at the histogram and it looked fine but the left side was not lit properly. I moved the strobe thinking coral may be blocking it...nope. I tested the strobes before the dive and they both fired. Ahhh, faulty strobe cord. I didn't need any added fun while trying to get comfortable with the new system.

i loved your wide angle shots. the lighting is beautiful. i'd be interested in how you would compare and contrast the inon strobes vs sea and sea dx, as i see you've used both. i'm trying to decide between the two for a d70

I find the Inon Z-200 to have a wider beam, brighter full dump, and quicker recharge than the Dx-90's I was using with my 5050.

I love them, and am very happy with the desicion to upgrade for the S2.

I've also sold a pair of YS90DX's and replaced them with two Z-220's. The Z-220 is about a stop brighter, has a wider and more uniform beam and smaller.

Thanks Herb, exactly.

Hey Todd,

Very nice work. Excellent lighting on your wide-angles. I'm doing a trip on the Shearwater in a couple of weeks and I hope I can do half as well. Any advice on the trip?

Larry

Nothing too much out of the ordinary for advice. Try to move your location with the sharks as you will get back to realize you have hundreds of the same looking shot.

Watch for the Hawkbill turtle on El Dorado as he is not afraid to let you get close. A nice brak from shooting the sharks.

Make sure both strobe cords are working. I had a strobe cord go south. I was shooting some tubes and kept adjusting my strobes thinking my lighting was off only to realize it was the sync. I usually run a dual sync and that will teach me.

Overhead environment.