Macro Photos from Derawan.Comments, please.

[bigbadwolf]

Here are some of my best macro shots from my recent trip to Derawan. Would appreciate comments on how to improve the shots, composition, etc...






Thanks in advance.

[beivied]

nice moment for the third picture also shows the small size of the cuttlefish .. in my own opinion, it would probably be a bit better if the strobe light was from the left, which should illuminate the cuttlefish better. but i do not know, and i would really think you only had seconds to capture the shot. very nice

[kthan]

If to be REALLY critical, i don't like the negative space in pic 1 and 3. Also I feel by placing the eye on rule of the third would be better.

i REALLY would like to see your avatar in 600X400. I think that is an awesome shot!

Eric

[bigbadwolf]

Thanks but what do you mean by placing the eye on the rule of the third? Does this have anything to do with the Rule of Thirds used in gas consumption?

Regarding the avatar...I ripped it off Halcyon's website...but don't tell them yah....

[bigbadwolf]

Please let me know what you think of these as well....my first time with a macro lens and its DOF is excrutiatingly narrow....maybe I just not used to it.

[Photosmart]

Originally Posted by bigbadwolf Please let me know what you think of these as well....my first time with a macro lens and its DOF is excrutiatingly narrow....maybe I just not used to it.

No bad for first time using the UCL-165.

btw yr strobe is Z-220S.

McHale Song

[lovells19]

when i just got my lens, it allows me to really zoom in all the way and still shoot at a very close distance. then i realized zooming in too much kills the DOF.. especially when i stacked my 2nd one.. zooming out really helps

pygmy shot will be nice if the background is black

i like the 2nd bunch 4th picture if the shrimp faces you will be even nicer! next time try to coax it kakaka

[bigbadwolf]

Originally Posted by Photosmart btw yr strobe is Z-220S. McHale Song

Thanks, Mchale. And its good to see you on this board. You should know which strobe I have cos....

[bigbadwolf]

Originally Posted by lovells19 when i just got my lens, it allows me to really zoom in all the way and still shoot at a very close distance. then i realized zooming in too much kills the DOF.. especially when i stacked my 2nd one.. zooming out really helps pygmy shot will be nice if the background is black i like the 2nd bunch 4th picture if the shrimp faces you will be even nicer! next time try to coax it kakaka

Thanks! I like to hear more on the relationship between zooming and DOF.

Does this mean that if I had a macro lens on, the more I zoom the narrower the DOF and conversely, the less I zoom, the wider the DOF? Would this relationship hold true regardless of whether I had a macro lens on?

I cannot remember whether I was zoomed in or out, but I remember adjusting the aperture to get an acceptable DOF. Would a combination of zooming out and using a smaller aperture get me the widest DOF?

Yeah...it would be good if the critters were more co-operative....I was already struggling to take the picture and my task loading was quite high maybe when I become more comfortable next time. Haha

[kthan]

Originally Posted by bigbadwolf Thanks but what do you mean by placing the eye on the rule of the third? Does this have anything to do with the Rule of Thirds used in gas consumption? Regarding the avatar...I ripped it off Halcyon's website...but don't tell them yah....

place the eye off center. u divide the frame into rows and columns of 3. Place your object of focus (the eye) at the points where the intersections occur. Usually it is better but it is not a blanket application though.

[lovells19]

Originally Posted by bigbadwolf Thanks! I like to hear more on the relationship between zooming and DOF. Yeah...it would be good if the critters were more co-operative....I was already struggling to take the picture and my task loading was quite high maybe when I become more comfortable next time. Haha

When you zoom in your DOF will get narrow with or without Macro lens one mah. then the Lens will cut the DOF more especially when you stack.

I had the same problem as you then, i went asking around, and this is the advice i was given, and well it works! "Zoom out, get closer and then crop later."

eg ah

this one i zoomed in all the way cos this little bugger is like 3mm big very shallow DOF

then after getting the advise i tried again on another trip, different subject lah


heehe please pardon the badly taken photo :d

dive more! hehehe

[Photosmart]

The longer the lens...for prosumer cam mean the more you zoom.. the less DOF....

But if dont zoom, how to shoot those small nudi..

Solution -> Get a close-up (macro) lens...to reduce the working distance..

[kohss]

Hi bigbadwolf

U are using 1 closeup lens only? Did you do any cropping to the pic? and lastly, you are using Macro mode right? (or others)

Thanks in advance... btw great pics!

[bigbadwolf]

Originally Posted by kohss Hi bigbadwolf U are using 1 closeup lens only? Did you do any cropping to the pic? and lastly, you are using Macro mode right? (or others) Thanks in advance... btw great pics!

Thanks, Kohss! I am using only one macro lens and yes, the pictures have been cropped. The pictures have been taken using macro mode.

[Pablo]

Hi bigbadwolf,

I saw a photo of the Nudibranch in the random pictures and just had to look further.

What a good idea the random photo's are.... I would not have been here to see your other GREAT photo's if not by chance of seeing the random photo.

Your photos are simply beautiful !!!

I am not a diver and therefore admire what you guys do when I look into your forum.

But I must admit, these photo's are really good

I do hope you continue to provide me and others with such good views of what I and others don't get to see.

Cheers