7 replies to this topic

[Big Blue One]

my latest shots from trip to PG at the beginning of May

http://www.pbase.com...rto_galera_2008

[Steve Williams]

Thanks Richard! Some beautiful stuff. I love all the info right on the page with the image and your website layout, nicely done. I noticed some softness on a few of the images. Do you think that this is due to using the 100mm in a little cloudy water or ..........? Of course it could just be my brain on a Sat. morning. Looks like you had a great trip.

Steve

[Big Blue One]

Yes viz was down a bit. Although because of the amount of water between the lens and the subject i find there is always a level of softness but I can nearly always correct this with the high-pass filter as long as I nail the focal point.

Also getting optimal DOF I am still struggling with as it is still very shallow.

For underwater macro I also use the centre spot for focus point as well rather than the full 9 points on the sensor. As I shoot in full manual I wouldn't then expect this to be an issue but I do have trouble verifying focus just by looking as the view finder is very small and the ikelite doesn't have an enhanced viewfinder add on.

[Steve Williams]

Also getting optimal DOF I am still struggling with as it is still very shallow.

What do you typically use for an f-stop on your macro stuff? I noticed most of your nudi shots with the 100mm were 5.6 or 8. Have you tried bumping it up to 16 or 22 to get the increased DOF? The haze I was wondering about shows up on the shot of the Red-Gilled Nembrotha on the tunicate shot (first page).

Steve

[Big Blue One]

The haze on the nembrotha i think is actually as a result of editing as the original was quite dark i think i overdid the fill light tweak.

Yes i have only just got my second strobe so am still struggling with the lighting - I have tended to shoot at 8 where possible. Will be trying to bump this up when i go to Sipadan at the end of June.

? for you - how do you find the 40D. I am essentially waiting for the next iteration of the 5D before considering an upgrade.

[stewsmith]

i was having the same trouble as steve described, softness in places when shooting F11 and below. on my trip to lembeh i decided to bump it up on most of my shots to F18 or F22 and got some very crisp detailed images. obviously some shots will look better with some of the image soft.

[Steve Williams]

The haze on the nembrotha i think is actually as a result of editing as the original was quite dark i think i overdid the fill light tweak.

What software package are you using ? I haven't seen that effect.

Yes i have only just got my second strobe so am still struggling with the lighting - I have tended to shoot at 8 where possible. Will be trying to bump this up when i go to Sipadan at the end of June.

Here are some test shots with the 100mm. Taken at about a 45 degree angle from about 12 in. right in nudi range f8 and f22 Not sure how well they will show up after downsizing the file

? for you - how do you find the 40D. I am essentially waiting for the next iteration of the 5D before considering an upgrade.

With my limited experience with digital I'm loving the 40D, I haven't even had it in the ocean yet (Bonaire in 3 weeks ) so I'm not a good barometer but I'm really getting into it. I had a bunch of Canon glass so it was an easy choice. This year I am celebrating my 40th year diving, so it seemed obvious I had to get the 40, you don't mess with karma like that.

Have fun,

Steve

[diverdon]

Nice work! How hot was it in PG? I will be going at the end of July. When I was their this Feburary I was wishing I had brought my winter jacket.