Pics from Monterey - Hammer me please

Here are a couple of images from last weekend in Monterey. I have cropped the images and adjusted the levels. What do you think ? What could I have done in the water to improve the image and what post production recommendations do you have ?

PS to those of you who saw my post on the critque forum note I have now read the rules and slapped my wrists and will behaving properly in the future, enthusiam got the better of me sorry

and

[/img]

I really like #1 and #4

#2 and #3 dont do anything for me.

I think that 1 might be improved by moving the stobe up so that the top of the starfish had a little more light and the rock had a little less. The rock is overexposed.

I dont like the composition of #2. I think it would benefit from backing up and getting the whole anemone in the shot.

#3 looks over exposed and over processed. I think it would also be better if you backed up somewhat.

#4 might be better if you had a second stobe to fill in the shadows on the right. you could also use to clone out some of the backscatter.

Great shots, Rob. You're a long way from home. Having fun?

I think the top image would be improved with less directional lighting. It is clear that you have only got one strobe from this shot. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, I think that you should have aimed the strobe more at the main subject - the starfish.

The second image is an good abstract. Well lit and interestingly composed. I am not sure where the red and brown work that well together. But I think it would be a great shot in a portfolio.

I really like the last two of the kelp. Particularly with the added interest of the snail. Lovely colours. I am primarily a coral reef photographer - so I always like sea weed shots. I think that you should consider cleaning those black backgrounds with the clone tool in photoshop as I find the zits a bit distracting. Alternatively try some long exposures to burn in blue or green water backgrounds.

Really nice. 60mm or 105mm?

Alex

Hi Rob,

Nice shots. The jeweled top snail looks a little over exposed to me. It would look better with the color bands going all the way around the shell. If you shot raw the lost details may be there and can be brought out with some adjustment.

Given the opportunity, I would have taken a few shots closer in with the snail filling much more of the frame. Depending on water movements that may not have been an easy thing to do.

I'm considering going down there for a couple of shore dives on 10/2 Saturday. Will you still be in town?

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

I will certainly try and lift the strobe to get the target cleaner in #1 I have drawn the eye to the coral whip, would it be worth try to dodge it out or would it just be easier to go get wet again?

#2 I am not sure on but found it interesting underwater, the kelp frond appeared to being consumed by the anemone.

#3 I liked the picture and the shadows until my wife asked why I had take a photo of a carrot and after that it was ruined for me.

#4 Is my favourite although I had hoped to bring the snails colours out better (rather than burning them out) If I was shooting this with two strobes how would you recommend I light the subjects?

I am certainly enjoying myself out here although I didn't pay enough attention as the dive store converted kgs to pounds so was underweighted for the first dive which added an extra a bit of fun to the dive. I also seemed to suffer from extremely short battery life, about 20 mins, I put this down to the cold water temperature about 13 degs C.

I was shooting with a single DS125 and a 60mm. I did bring out a second strobe but forgot the sync cord!

Herb, I am here until the 15th Oct although I think I will be in NYC for the weekend Oct 2nd, I was thinking of going again this weekend but might have left it to late for a boat slot.