First Canon 20D UW shots

So I posted a bunch of resized images of my recent trip to Palau and the first batch of pics using my 20D underwater...would love constructive feedback since I'm about to take the rig to Bonaire next week...thanks much!!!

http://darrylschaffer.members.winisp.net/UWPhoto/default.htm

Hey Darryl - congrats on putting together a nice rig! And it looks like you had some great dives in Palau.

I feel kind of uneasy making comments critiquing your photos, as I just put a new Canon 20D to work only a week and a half ago - my first experience with a DSLR. As long as everyone realizes that I realize that this is likely a case of the blind leading the blind, here goes.

My favorite shot was the apparently natural light shot with the free diver and jellies - great composition and a good exposure. It seems like in some of your closer-up shots that there was't a lot of light from the strobe reaching the subjects, so to me they looked like they lacked warmth. I know you've got just a single strobe - like I do - so I'm sure it's hard to get sufficient illumination sometimes. Here's a link to my first batch of 20D photos - they're all 60mm macro shots:

20D 60mm macro shots

I was pleased with the overall warmth in most of these shots.

Maybe in your case there is something that can be done on the image processing side too. I do sometimes adjust the EV values in my .RAW images before working on them a bit in Photoshop, where I sometimes tweak the brightness histogram. In this regard there are a lot of really smart & experienced people out there who should be able to give you some good guidance.

In any case - best wishes on your trip to Bonaire!

Just one more thing, now that I think about it...

On your shots illuminated with the strobe, did you adjust the white balance in the .RAW images to "flash" ? Starting off with a reasonably accurate white balance can make a big difference.

I am not totaly comfortable critiqing others work in a gallery designed to "show off" your pictures.

But you asked...

First, the sunburst with the diver is very nice.

Most of the shots look like you were too far from the primary subject. A strobe is good for 5-6 feet TOPS, and even at that range will be limited. In other words, you need to get closer.

As to the white balance mentioned in another post, shooting RAW is your BEST tool during the learning curver we all suffer. Do NOT just use a random setting, such as "falsh". Use the eyedropper to select a white/grey point. If this isn't right, then use the slider to move from one end to the other and find the right "point". This will help a LOT to eliminate the blue tinge to a lot of the shots.

All in all, great shots for a first outing!

Keep up the good work.

What a nice trip! Sure you enjoied a lot. I love the picture whit the diver shilouette among jellyfishes, it has a good natural lightning. For close up shots you can try to get closer to the main subject, it will provide better light from your strobe ant more interest to the shot.

Anyway, they are good pics, thanks for sharing