I dont mean this to be contoversial, but whenever i see your work posted, it reminds me of the art of photograghy.So much of uw is what i would call snapshots, or id shots. yours is thought out and creative, really ahead of the pack.
You know what I love about diving with and taking photos with Alex and seeing his results is ... the way he changes it up over the years. Being a Marine Biologist you would expect the standard old id shots .. however Alex's interests goes way beyond into the behaviour of the animals too and the amount I have learnt from him is amazin even though i though I knew it all. Knowing critters is one thing .. but knowing what when how and why they do things is what gets these shots and thats what makes diving with him a real pleasure and also makes my own photography interesting always trying to keep up and out do him ... if you ever get a chance to dive with Alex or go on one of his courses it is a must do .. it reinvigorates your uw photography.
and oh aren't I lucky he is coming down tomorrow ... get some diving .. will we ... hell yes.
btw Alex thats not sucking up ... that me mentoring you ... my little protoge.
Hi Alex, it's taken me all morning to get through your pics. (too many phone calls ). It's great that you can take so many fine pics while under those constraints.
My quick comments:
I liked your Stargazer, it's so hard to get something different with those critters, the 'V' shape at the back really adds to the composition. That blennie on the Clam shot is great. Maybe the 150mm would have brought things in tighter but I'd never argue composition with you (Too much anyway ). The first Pygmy shot is a knockout. DOF is perfect and I love the personality. And of course the Lionfish, are they courting in that one shot? Love the underbelly shot with the blue background.
re: The videographer. I've always assumed they'd like to get an action shot of me taking a picture.....
Rand
And of course the Lionfish, are they courting in that one shot?
It almost looks like Alex was back at it with a mirror
~Matt Segal
Thanks Giles! Now I am in Cayman I can pay you in person.
The lionfish were fighting - presumably over turf or ladies or something. They were at it for a couple of afternoons. I found it a very difficult scene to capture in a single shot. If I tried to include the whole of both fish then their facial expressions get lost - but when I focused in on the faces then you didn't get the whole story. I think that my favourite shot was a portrait of a single fish in full display posture. Unfortunately you can't figure out what it is doing from that single frame.
I couldn't figure out a solution - but I took a number of shots and think I might write an article about them as I think these shots would go well with my courting and mating lions from the Red Sea:
Actually that was from my only dive with the 150mm! I really didn't get on with that lens. It is far too long for those conditions - very hard to eliminate backscatter with such long working distances. I am hoping it will be more effective now I am in the clear waters of Cayman. I might try it on my first dive today. In low viz it has a role for super macro, with a dioptre, but it is very restrictive as the working distances required to shoot anything larger than a matchbox just create backscatter.
Alex
Argh, I told you so! You really need a 500D to use with that 150mm lens Alex and then you'll love it. I even offered to let you use mine, but noooo, you didn't listen :-) So please don't give up on it. With the 500D mounted, the working distance and close focus are much like the 105, only with higher magnification.
Cheers
James
Ok, then I meant to say 105mm with the 2xTC
I'll have a chance to shoot the 150mm next week in Port Hardy. Maybe then I'll be in a position to give advice to other people. Sorry....
Rand
Rand: make sure to use the diopter...;-)
James,
If Ryan supplied it, I'll use it. LOL!
Actually, I've developed this love affair with the 2xTC so, I'm probably going to spend the majority of the time with it. And use the advice from here on shooting much wider apertures. Lots of tiny stuff there.
Rand
James,
If Ryan supplied it, I'll use it. LOL!
Actually, I've developed this love affair with the 2xTC so, I'm probably going to spend the majority of the time with it. And use the advice from here on shooting much wider apertures. Lots of tiny stuff there.
I do understand why the dioptre is important for thw 150mm - but it doesn't fit in my Subal port with it. Regarding the 150mm I didn't find it suitable for many subjects in Bali. For anything bigger that 1:2 I would rather use the 60mm there - as subjects are so approachable. For 1:2 it is not a question of needing a dioptre - it is just for most of the bigger stuff I'd rather use a shorter lens and get closer to reduce backscatter.
But I do plan to get a dioptre and sort out a subal port for this lens.
Gotta back Mike on this one... we video guys don't complain about your silly flashbulb popping u/w paparazzi....opps I'm a "video expert" now... I must behave... I must behave...
Alex, I would definitely like to hear about port combinations you used for the 150mm. I have the 10mm extension ring that I used ontop of the port combination that Subal recommended for the 70-180mm so I can use Nikon 5T or 6T diopter. I imagine that the 10mm extension ring would give enough clearance for the 500D diopter as well.
Boi
I think that James told me that the Canon 500D dioptre is about 13mm so that ext ring should be about right.
The problem with the subal ports and the 150mm macro lens is not just the length of the lens, but also the diameter. The lens itself is not that wide, but the focus limiting switches are just in the wrong place and make it impossible to fit some ports. You must check that you can accomodate this lens before buying it.
I nearly didn't buy the lens because at first I couldn't house it in a Subal.
Alex
I am still rather confused about all the available flat ports from Subal. I imagine that there are at least a few different options. My port combinaton is based on the 60mm lens port with manual dial on the side. The dimension of the port is quite big as the biggest Nexus wetmount diopter (110) is still too small for it. The 70-180 mm lens has plenty of space around it, probably a good 3-4mm between the lens and the side of the port. Next to Nexus port for the 70-180mm, my Subal port is huge.
I'll try and take a photo later to show you what I mean. I will have to borrow a camera as I only have one with me - and that will be in the photo!
Unfortunately we have a power cut scheduled today so it may take me a while to reply. Plus I will be out diving this afternoon and evening!
Alex
Diving! You ba***rd! I'm boarding up my house...
Cheers
James
Signed: Extremely jealous.
If it makes you feel any better I have not taken one decent picture since being here in Cayman - mainly because I haven't done a photo dive yet...
If it makes you feel any better I have not taken one decent picture since being here in Cayman - mainly because I haven't done a photo dive yet...
). It's great that you can take so many fine pics while under those constraints. 
). The first Pygmy shot is a knockout. DOF is perfect and I love the personality. And of course the Lionfish, are they courting in that one shot? Love the underbelly shot with the blue background. 
