vetdiver 8 Posted January 23, 2008 All - As always, must preface this post wth apologies for my unfettered ignorance about the ways and means of UW photography. Any advice/ideas would be very appreciated! Most of my dives are done before dawn or after sunset (and done in the macro-laden sand pit that is San Diego's La Jolla Shores), so I almost always have a 50 mm lens on my camera. Last night, we found ourselves in the middle of a huge "Squid Run" here, literally THOUSANDS of squid - I managed a few neat shots with my standard 50 mm macro lens (even one that I am pretty proud of), but I am keen to go back tonight to capture it differently...I may be out of luck, but there is still a full moon, so I am hoping for a repeat performance. Of course, it will be dark - which just seems sort of not good for WA. I have a Canon EF 10-22 mm lens and was planning to set it at 22 mm, then place my strobes (2 DS125's) as if for macro, near the housing, but with the strobes pointed out, sort of "close up-wide angle"-esque. God knows there were so many squid last night that the "close up" part would have been easy!!! I bought this rig specifically for UW photography and never bought a standard zoom lens - I have the 50 and 100 mm macros and the 10-22 mm WA. Any suggestions? Comments? Ideas? Thanks so much in advance, and happy and safe diving to all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeVeitch 0 Posted January 23, 2008 squid run! cool! if its anything like the photos i have seen of Howard Hall then it is literally crawling with squid. Can you use the zoom ring to vary focal length? I am thinking a variety of 10 -15 and 22 mm would be quite useful as opposed to just leaving it on 22. Also, 10mm will give you a closer and sharper focus than at 22. You could always crop after (ooo, i just said crop hehe) but your close focus will def be better in 10-16mm region than at 22. Yes, close focus lighting is what you would be looking for as i am thinking you can get right into the squid? Have fun! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davephdv 0 Posted January 23, 2008 If you were shooting Nikon I would suggest the 17-55. Maybe a 24-70?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vetdiver 8 Posted January 23, 2008 Wow, thanks for the replies, guys - and so fast!! Mike - nope, I am still adjusting to the acute pain of upgrading to dSLR, so I am stuck with what I choose ahead of time. I agree about the focusing, though, didn't think of that (and YES, right smack in the middle of them...it was absolutely amazing). Sounds like you think it would be better to go towards the wider part of my lens. I was a bit worried that my strobes wouldn't be able to cover that in the dark, but if there are as many beasts as last night, it might not be an issue. (CROP? Heresy!) Dave - No, my friend, I am a Canon girl, all the way. But thanks for the reply, anyways. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bartusderidder 0 Posted January 23, 2008 Would you be willing to post a few pics? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeVeitch 0 Posted January 23, 2008 i would say 12mm should be perfect. Also, shutter at least 125 or 160 to freeze the action Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vetdiver 8 Posted January 23, 2008 (edited) Mike - thanks again. Bartusderidder - Here is the only pic I did anything with yesterday - I ddn't even see the egg when I took the shot. Be kind to the silly newbie!!! Hopeully, there will BE something to take a pic of tonight - believe me, the Shores with a WA setup on most days is a laughable proposition, even WITH ambient light. Edited January 23, 2008 by vetdiver Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Williams 0 Posted January 23, 2008 That is not a shot of a "silly newbie". Most wouldn't think of getting in the cold pacific in Jan. before dawn to get an image. Congratulations on a great shot! Lighting looks very nice from what I can make out on the image size. Composition is great too. Playing with the WA at close focus sounds like fun. Go for it! Might try pointing your strobes outboard a little and keep them close to the housing. Steve Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bartusderidder 0 Posted January 24, 2008 Be kind to the silly newbie!!! Hello "Vetdiver" (sorry, don't know your real name), Thank you for that great picture indeed ! Looking forward to seeing more squid (and other) pictures :-) Best regards, Bartus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vetdiver 8 Posted January 24, 2008 Bartus (and Steve) - Thanks - that really means a lot. Here are the two I like best from last night - I didn't get many, as I had some - um - buddy issues. We tried to discourage a nonphotographer (and new-to-the-cold-water-diver to boot) from accompanying us into the driving rain for the run last night, but she insisted, and I wound up having to pay more attention to her than squid. I am headed back out before dawn tomorrow morning...hopefully, they will still be out! Criticism, ideas, any comments? The lighting was not easy, and my Fisheye flooded (DEAD FOR GOOD. Anyone want to buy my backup battery and charger?? I'm going LED!!), so I wound up having to hold my canister light handle "just so" to help my camera focus. Also, they kept going ater the port and strobes, so it was hard to get the ones in front lit!!! this one is not my favorite picture, but it does show DENSITY!! Allison Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
james 0 Posted January 24, 2008 I would suggest you try the Sigma 15mm fisheye. It will let you get really close (can almost focus on the dome) and still get a fairly wide field of view. Cheers James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ornate_wrasse 0 Posted January 24, 2008 I would suggest you try the Sigma 15mm fisheye. It will let you get really close (can almost focus on the dome) and still get a fairly wide field of view. Hi James, I have been seeing lots of recommendations for the Sigma 15mm FE lens. I recently bought a Nikon 16mm FE lens. I'm wondering if the Nikon can also be recommended for similar shots and if the two lenses (Sigma 15mm and Nikon 16mm) are comparable for uw WA shots. Thanks. Ellen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
james 0 Posted January 24, 2008 Yeah, they're pretty much interchangeable. The Sigma does focus a bit closer, but not a noticeable difference. James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vetdiver 8 Posted January 24, 2008 I would suggest you try the Sigma 15mm fisheye. It will let you get really close (can almost focus on the dome) and still get a fairly wide field of view. Well, as much as I'd LOVE to go out and buy more lenses right now, it is going to have to wait a while!!!! When I bought the 10-22 mm lens, I was thinking more of an upcoming trip (Revillagigedos) and not a kazillion squid bouncing off my dome port (seriously, if you took your hand off one of the handles attached to your housing??? You had to be careful not to squish any squid when you put your hand back. They were all over our faces, everywhere)!! The next time I'm looking for a new lens, though, I'll be sure to take a look - I would really like a fisheye, and this looks like it has an incredible minimum focal distance. Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeVeitch 0 Posted January 25, 2008 wow! that is some squid! you did a good job. i want to go! (cept you said it was cold so i won't go... ) The first shot has very cool comp with that one out front, and the density in that last shot.. wow! James, when she mentioned flooded fisheye, that was the spotting light, not a lens.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimG 62 Posted January 25, 2008 That top shot is really neat! If you can get in again with a really wide angle you should get some amazing shots with so many squid in the water. Can you get ahead of them so they are swimming at you rather than across? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
acco205 0 Posted January 31, 2008 Bartus (and Steve) - Thanks - that really means a lot. Here are the two I like best from last night - I didn't get many, as I had some - um - buddy issues. We tried to discourage a nonphotographer (and new-to-the-cold-water-diver to boot) from accompanying us into the driving rain for the run last night, but she insisted, and I wound up having to pay more attention to her than squid. I am headed back out before dawn tomorrow morning...hopefully, they will still be out! Criticism, ideas, any comments? The lighting was not easy, and my Fisheye flooded (DEAD FOR GOOD. Anyone want to buy my backup battery and charger?? I'm going LED!!), so I wound up having to hold my canister light handle "just so" to help my camera focus. Also, they kept going ater the port and strobes, so it was hard to get the ones in front lit!!! this one is not my favorite picture, but it does show DENSITY!! Allison Wow, looks like its really picked up!! I went out about 2 weeks ago to try and get some shots but aside from being nipped at by all the seal lions nothing good. Not nearly as many...you could still see through them anyway... whats the matter (other)Mike? 'fraid of 50* water? I'm going to agree with everyone else on the 15mm but you'd better hurry, they'll (the squid) will only be around for another week or so...then they'll all be dead (you can still take pictures though...just not as exciting...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest cor Posted January 31, 2008 Hi A., those are some great shots! Cor Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeVeitch 0 Posted January 31, 2008 whats the matter (other)Mike? 'fraid of 50* water? Simple answer? Yes NOt so simple: had enough of that in Vancouver so got smart and left.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vetdiver 8 Posted February 1, 2008 Hi A., those are some great shots! Cor Cor - Thanks - and thank YOU and Julie - you guys are the ones who first really inspired me!! Allison Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vetdiver 8 Posted February 1, 2008 Thanks to everyone for your help and nice comments. It is really much appreciated. acco205, hope you got back out - what an AMAZING experience!!! I must say, that was one of the coolest things I've ever seen! There were still some squid last Saturday, but I had some work to catch up on ater the week of diving/irresponsibility, and the surf came up this week. Saw a report from last night saying it's mostly eggs now, v few squid. Guess we'll have to wait for the next one... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
acco205 0 Posted February 1, 2008 unfortunatly no aside from having to work I just got my suit back from DUI (having a pocket installed) today and my primary torch is giving me trouble (its been flickering on and off and failed on my last night dive...so its a good thing my new greenforce should be here in the next few days!) not to mention rain!! for those of you who want a better idea of what it looks like out there, check out divebums.com under photos of the week and thats pretty much all there is at the moment, plus a 4 minute vid of nothing but squid! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bartusderidder 0 Posted February 2, 2008 ...plus a 4 minute vid of nothing but squid! WOW, that's a whole lot of squid indeed ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
