acroporas 0 Posted April 22, 2005 Great photos William! I especially like the pair of gobys. Which itinerary did you do on the spoil sport? My wife and I have been thinking of joining Mike Ball but cant decide which boat or trip would be the best.. M. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Was on the Supersport from Lizard Island to Cairns. They fly you out to lizard Island and you are in the water by 11am that same day. No time wasted driving the boat back and forth from the reef. It definatly is definatly diving in style. The cabins were huge, the food was great. If I can find the time (and the money) I want to do one of the long spoilsport trips from Townsville. The only problem will be my 20GB portable hard drive wont be enough storage for a week of diving. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
acroporas 0 Posted April 22, 2005 Me photographing the bubble coral shimp. Don't I have such good posture. The only problem with the boat was their small camera table. Now this is the first boat I've ever been on that have been on that had any camera table, But it was fortunate that I was the only SLR on the boat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeVeitch 0 Posted April 23, 2005 Hey William, was Sam Taylor the photo/video guy on the boat when you were there? Kinda looks a bit like Krusty the Clown? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detonate 0 Posted April 23, 2005 I had Videoman Steve and Kerin was my trip director. Kerin had some of the best dive briefing I've ever heard. Man, I wish I could just live on that boat. Those are some truely stunning images. I'm in awwww... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
acroporas 0 Posted April 23, 2005 Hey William, was Sam Taylor the photo/video guy on the boat when you were there? Kinda looks a bit like Krusty the Clown? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Maby, the name sounds familiar, but I didnt notice him looking like Krusty. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
james 0 Posted April 23, 2005 This is great - some real comments from one photographer trying to help another improve. Oftentimes, on the net, I see threads with dozens of people who just say "Great shots" and that is their whole post. Not very helpful, IMO. Cheers James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
acroporas 0 Posted April 24, 2005 Yep. Thats why I love this place. I wouldn't say that hepfull comments are rare here though. WetPixel is responsible for 100% of my underwater photography education so there must have been a few other helpfull posts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmooney 6 Posted April 24, 2005 William, Great macro - you seem to have that sorted out. Lizard to Cairns should have included the dives at the Cod Hole , Pixie Pinnacle and Steves Bommie. I expect you would have had some fantastic wide angle opportunities on your trip, wondering if you could post a few ?? Mike, Sam Taylor ( the Krusty look alike ) has just gone to PNG to spend 3 months on Paradise Sport. Best Peter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
acroporas 0 Posted April 24, 2005 If thats the case, then it was Sam. Because he did say he was off to PNG. There were probably lots of WA opportunitys but I didnt see many. I only did 2 WA dives. Was having too much fun with my new macro lens. + I can't spot WA opportunitys even when I am looking for them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
acroporas 0 Posted April 24, 2005 I am really bad a WA. But I will post some for you. Alex has allready said that my macros are boaring so I might as well come out of the closet and admit I cant shoot a decent WA shot without nasty backscatter. Of course everyone must take this shot while at Cod Hole. Yep, I can even manage to cut the F'ing tail off on a WA shot. You'd think I should be able to take this shot from the hip but I miss even though I was looking through the viewfinder. Puffer Needed to get much closer. If only there wasnt so much backscatter I might like this one. Overexposed the forground, my exhaust in the background, and still backscatter. Man I suck. Not that bad, Perhaps I could have gotten a little lower. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeVeitch 0 Posted April 24, 2005 William, don't be so hard on yourself!!!! Point your strobes parallel with the lens and in siltier conditions a little more than parallel. Pull em back a touch past the film plane (sorry digital equiv?) and get em out as far as your arms allow. THats for about 3 feet and further, any closer and aim em beyond the subject. ps- don't take photos of cucumbers...bad rep for the dive operator..."and all i saw was this" ha ha Peter- you know Sam? Whats he doin running away from family life so soon? Give him a slap upside the head from me when he returns and of course ask him if he is still flooding cameras....ha ha ha again!!! knock on wood Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
acroporas 0 Posted April 24, 2005 Yes, I shouldn't be so hard on my self, If I spent as much time at WA as I do on Macro I'm sure I'd be much better. 11 macro dives 2 WA dives? Thats no way to get better. But as I am now, I do suck at it. I have been thinking about it and I've got some ideas to try next dive. Mainly I want to try holding the camera upside down and shoot 1/500th or less. Anyone ever tryed that? Ok, next time a dive company makes me mad, I'll make sure to post only cucumber shots and I'll fluff up the water so the visability is horible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmooney 6 Posted April 24, 2005 William , It looks like you had less than ideal conditions. It is a real challenge to shoot wide angle in dirty water , still you gave it a good shot. Mike - Sam has taken the family with him ! He has got pretty good at the other ...... Best Peter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeVeitch 0 Posted April 24, 2005 Hey William, here are a few photos and diagrams to look at from my own photo outline. Most people have to pay big money for those! You get em fer free... Two photos (by me, not good at the drawing stuff) is the age old rule of thirds, its pretty cliche but is great for a starting point. Get your key points of interest, eyes, people etc, near one of the intersecting points. Its cliche but works. The diagrams are by a friend of mine, Brian Stephenson, they illustrate both good and bad strobe angles and how to cut down on backscatter. Overall, you are doing the best thing though, get out and shoot shoot shoot! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
acroporas 0 Posted April 24, 2005 Thanks Mike. Ive seen thouse diagrams before, but it allways helps to be reminded. As you can see in the pictures of my rig, I've only got single 6 inch arms so that is probably part of the problem. You know, it would really be nice if camera makers would put AF points that fit the rule of thirds..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kdietz 0 Posted April 24, 2005 Good examples Mike.....most people think that you actually aim the strobes at the subject....these examples show how that doesn't work Karl Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
acroporas 0 Posted April 24, 2005 As I count, of the macro shots 8 are rule of thirds, 5 are centered. Not that bad... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ana Rodriguez Blanco 0 Posted May 19, 2005 Great shots!!! Congratulatios for that wonderful collection and thanks for taking me to Australia with your beautiful scenes! The Hawkfish is an excellent capture, and I like specially the bubble coral shrimp, good macro shot! The turtle looks great in that perfec blue. And at the WA photos you are posting here, I like the 3rd the best. Cheers and thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ponsui 0 Posted May 20, 2005 Nice shots!! I really like the crab portrait . B) David. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
