Photo sharing - Maratua/Sanggalaki Dec 2004

[RSU]

Here are some photos from my first dive trip with the Ike D70 housing.

Comments/queries are very welcome. Cheers!

http://www.pbase.com/suppiah/nabucco

[kthan]

Hi RSU

I am surprised how little photos u took in SANGALAKI!!!! The DSLR is a wonderful tool for macro, but you shot way too little. Are u using a single strobe?

Firstly, your blue in the manta shots were absent. I know real sea water has a greenish tint, but we are all accustomed to seeing the deep blue. Perhaps u wanna try some color correction in PS? From your focal length, I presume you are using the kit lens for WA. The lens is not "wide" enuff. Try getting a 15mm Fish Eye. (12-24 is THE lens to go for, but it's 4X the price of a FE)

For your macros, some of them were affected by your camera shake. Try shooting higher than 1/60. 1/125, f16-22 is a good setting. Try not to use anything less than f11 becos of the shallow DOF, unless u wanna just keep the eyes in focus or something. Notice this is the setting for your pygmy shot. Nice and sharp!

Really, that's too little photos taken for a trip to Sangalaki.

Eric

[RSU]

Hey Eric,

Thanks for your comments. Definitely have more photos on the way, just haven't had time to process them yet.

I agree that some of the macro shots were shot too slow, but this when I was still fiddling around with the settings. Living and learning, I suppose.

For the wide manta shots, the problem with Sangalaki is that the mantas are hanging out there because of the plankton i.e. tons of backscatter. Even without strobe, the viz was pretty bad. Definitely a limitation of the 18-70 lens I was using, so I am switching to the 12-24. Got the lens, haven't got the port yet. Don't know when I will be hitting the water again, tho... For the colour correction, it looks pretty ok on my monitor. Will pump up the blues further.

Appreciate the feedback.

Rohan

[kthan]

does ikelite has a port which allows u to zoom 12-24? if not, u would have the pre-set it at 12....

even for the 18-70, if there a zoom clamp on the port?

Anyway, lucky u. I am trying very hard to go Sangalaki this year, not so much of the $$ or time, but the exit permit from my wife. hahahahaha

[RSU]

Originally Posted by kthan does ikelite has a port which allows u to zoom 12-24? if not, u would have the pre-set it at 12.... even for the 18-70, if there a zoom clamp on the port? Anyway, lucky u. I am trying very hard to go Sangalaki this year, not so much of the $$ or time, but the exit permit from my wife. hahahahaha

Yeah, they do. You can use the #5503.50 dome, but it needs a specific port sleeve made for the lens - part #5509.12. No clamp required, just rubber pads in the sleeve to operate the zoom, just like how the focusing for the 105 macro works. Only works with lenses with a larger diameter barrel. So, yes, the 18-70 needs a clamp.

Luckily my wife dives too. In fact, she's the one who bugs me to go diving.

Tip on traveling to Sangalaki via Balikpapan: use KrisFlyer points if you have them, only 15,000. The airfare is ridiculous otherwise.

[kthan]

if u r sick of your 12-24, can i stand next in line to buy it?

My wife dives too......but my baby boy just arrived. In fact, the krisflyer miles are standing ready....

[kng]

Originally Posted by RSU Here are some photos from my first dive trip with the Ike D70 housing. Comments/queries are very welcome. Cheers! http://www.pbase.com/suppiah/nabucco

Sorry to OT, but hope you enjoyed Nabucco and that the resort met yr expectations! Was there a dive guide called 'Medi' there?

[RSU]

Originally Posted by kng Sorry to OT, but hope you enjoyed Nabucco and that the resort met yr expectations! Was there a dive guide called 'Medi' there?

No Medi. There was a Dudi and a Putu. The resort was very empty when we were there, and mostly German guests, which was not surprising given that the people who ran the resort were German too. The food therefore had to cater to their taste, which was a darn shame, especially when you hungry after a dive.

Other than that, no complaints. Diving itself was excellent, I think the macro shooting opportiunities at Maratua are often overlooked. Big Fish Country was a little too much to handle - since it was the full moon period, the extra strong currents and viz made it practically impossible to handle a bulky dSLR, or any camera for that matter.

On balance, my opinion is that UW photogs would still prefer Derawan, with daily excursions to Maratua/Sangalaki.