Macro Dive in Tulamben-Bali : where Dive Guide can make the difference .

[paolobl65 54]

I spent 9 day diving in Tulamben ( Bali ) last August and I hired Ajiex Dharma as my private dive guide .

Ajiex is a skilled and expert freelancer dive guide , worked many years in Villa Markisa , is very knowledge in nudibranches and a talented underwater photographer as well .

 

The feeling was perfect : above and below water .

We usually make 2 dives in the morning , lunch together ( fantastic have a lunch on the beach with super fresh grilled fish ) , and another dive in afternoon .

All shore dive , pick up from my resort … all perfectly organized .

 

We split our underwater photography in two session : macro with snoot and reverse ring macro ( extreme supermacro )

 

 

Macro with snoot .

 

We used mostly a Fabio Iardino snoot ( fiber optic + sealed optical lens custom snoot ) on a slave Inon Z240 triggered to have the maximum flexibility in targeting the light to create some side light and back light ( and not the standard spot light ) .

The goal was to create a light that give a great result to the subject but , sometimes , do not completely dark the background .

Just as less light as possible in the “right place “ to create te effect "we like" : this is the way we used the snoot .

( btw : “right place “ is a subjective meaning of course …. anyway hope you like the following photos )

 

Here are some shots we taken .

( if you like to see more , and in high resolution , here is the dedicated Flick gallery : https://www.flickr.com/photos/paolobl65/albums/72157685661275064/with/36874751275/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 17, 2018 by paolobl65

[paolobl65 54]

Reverse ring macro ( extreme supermacro )

 

We used a Cason EF-S 24 mm F2,8 pancake reversed with kooka adapter ( to be able to adjust aperture ) on Canon 7D + 37 mm ext tube .

In this way 5 mm fill the long side frame and this means , considering the Canon /d sensor 22,5 mm , an optical magnification x 4.5 ( stronger than any wet supermacro lens available today on the market )

Usually stopped down F5,6 – F8 to avoid too much diffraction ( you can see Exif data in Flickr ) .

 

Illumination was made by different kind of snoot ( all by fiber optic ) because working distance from port was only 2,5 cm .

 

It was not so easy to work with this lens because so close to the subject , manual focus only and fix frame , anyway we had a lot of fun .

A good focus light and a good external viewfinder were a must to clearly see when in focus .

 

Here are some shots we taken .

( if you like to see more , and in high resolution , here is the dedicated Flick gallery : https://www.flickr.com/photos/paolobl65/albums/72157689139160906 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally let me say again it was an amazing experience to dive and shot with Ajiex Dharma ( ... and I already hire him again for my next trip in Tulamben )

all my best

 

Paolo Isgro

[troporobo 244]

Wow, this is spectacular work! Not only technically amazing but also aesthetically very nice as well. Thanks a lot for sharing your images!

 

I really like the pair of leafy pipefish, and would love to know more about the your setup to produce such an image. I'm not able to imagine how it works with a snoot. Do you happen to have a photo of your assembled rig?

 

The suupermacro shots are really something too. I doubt most of us have seen anemonefish eggs at that level of detail.

[trimix125 73]

Hi,
great shots!!!
Like the lightning on the fish pics!
The super macros are superb!

Regards,
Wolfgang

[diggy 54]

Some super shots, great work. Thanks for sharing.

 

Diggy

[Pajjpen 63]

Love the close up of the pink nudi. Definitely my favourite

[Luko 29]

Hi Paolo

Very nice images, thanks for inspiring me with the RRM technique.

I pushed the vice to adding a 21mm extension ring to a reversed 15-85mm and that is what you get with a hairy shrimp.

 

 

However let's keep our favorite dive guide Ajiex for ourselves and avoid spreading the word too much at the risk we won't be able to book him anymore.

Out of joke, Ajiex is also carrying snooting / multicolor light workshops with multi prize winners Lilian Koh and Mike Bartick.

[TimG 62]

Superb stuff! Well done.

[paolobl65 54]

Wow, this is spectacular work! Not only technically amazing but also aesthetically very nice as well. Thanks a lot for sharing your images!

 

I really like the pair of leafy pipefish, and would love to know more about the your setup to produce such an image. I'm not able to imagine how it works with a snoot. Do you happen to have a photo of your assembled rig?

 

The suupermacro shots are really something too. I doubt most of us have seen anemonefish eggs at that level of detail.

 

Thank you very much !

 

the detailed set up description about remote flash triggered with snoot is here in my Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/paolo.isgro/media_set?set=a.10206286908305743.1073741835.1057154245&type=3 ) , just beaware the snoot in this link is my DIY double fiber optic snoot , instead the snoot I used in above Tulamben macro shots was the Fabio Iardino Snoot . Anyway the triggered system is the same .

 

Iardino Snoot is designed , engineered and produced by my friend Fabio Iardino and , sorry , I have to ask him the permission to post any photos of his snoot .

Anyway you can also ask to him directly through Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/iardino ) more info about his snoot ….. he is one of the most famous Italian underwater photographer , a pioneer in underwater snoot technology and always more than happy to answer any question about his snoot !

 

Hope this can help

Paolo Isgro

[paolobl65 54]

Hello Ludovic ,

 

Nice to meet you in Wetpixel Forum !!

 

Let me say the details in your hairy shrimp photo are unbelievable !! I saw also that shot in your Flickr gallery …. unbeatable details !!

The downside is to discover now a simple hairy shrimps is too big for a full shot in extreme Reverse Ring Macro …. not so much subject available .…

 

And apologize for unecessary advertising about Ajiex ability ( he really doesn’t need ! ) ….. but I hope we will have always a priority line in booking him ( anyway I already booked him for August 2019 , just to be conservative !! ) .

 

all my best

Paolo

Edited April 18, 2018 by paolobl65

[Humu797 20]

Super photographs Paolo! Well done!

[troporobo 244]

Thanks too for the links to the setup. Really interesting stuff. I might have a new project . . . .

[Luko 29]

 

And apologize for unecessary advertising about Ajiex ability ( he really doesn’t need ! ) ….. but I hope we will have always a priority line in booking him ( anyway I already booked him for August 2019 , just to be conservative !! ) .

 

 

I see you have appropriately covered your backsides... ... so have I ! will be in T'ben diving with him early september, but this year ( trying Kalimaya on Sumbawa beforehand).

Edited April 19, 2018 by Luko