Manado Bunaken/Lembeh

[frisky]

First time shot underwater, with a Canon S60 (not mine)
Just don't laugh pls

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2105975042

[m-zai]

those pics look good enough for me
it has been a long time since my last dive...tempted to go for one...haha

[diediealsomustdive]

Hi,

The photography is decent (to be read as about my standard, maybe slightly better, maybe slightly worse), pretty good actually. But really impressed with the range of subjects you got in the six days.

I am planning for a trip there in late November (Lovell are you reading this?). Can you email me your itinerary, who you dive with, cost (if possible)? Address at bottom. Bringing my teenage daughter along.

Oh a couple of mistakes, like that's not an octopus but a cuttlefish, and not a crab but a lobster.

Nevertheless a good range of subjects with pretty decent shots!

Thanks.

[uginz]

for a first timer, not bad.
just remember to go as close as possible. try not to take from top down, take from the front or side and upwards is better.

[lovells19]

Ohhhh i love the land shots!!! really nice.

they to get closer like what ugin says. but don't squash the creature lol

Originally Posted by diediealsomustdive I am planning for a trip there in late November (Lovell are you reading this?)

read this for what? u want me to bring you there?

[Nik-enduser]

Great stuff, reminds me of my first trip there.

My feedback - 1) the lens port is blocking the flash for some close-up shots. Try to take pic not too close and use PS to crop. 2) Use the silica gel packs always when diving as the camera heats up and causes condensation, that's why some images are blurr. A cheap alternative is to buy the silica gel from camera shop (cost less than $5) and seal them yourself using mesh tea bags and trim to size. 3) for the night dive shots, try using LED torch as the halogen torch leaves a yellow hot spot (apparent from several pics). 4) try cropping more of your pics to bring out the subject.

A very commendable effort nonetheless. Missing the clear waters already.

[diediealsomustdive]

Originally Posted by lovells19 read this for what? u want me to bring you there?

Something like that, if all the things are right (timing, cost, program). Not asking you to pay, just maybe I can get a chance to learn from the gurus (like you).

[frisky]

Originally Posted by diediealsomustdive The photography is decent (to be read as about my standard, maybe slightly better, maybe slightly worse), pretty good actually. But really impressed with the range of subjects you got in the six days. I am planning for a trip there in late November (Lovell are you reading this?). Can you email me your itinerary, who you dive with, cost (if possible)? Address at bottom. Bringing my teenage daughter along. Oh a couple of mistakes, like that's not an octopus but a cuttlefish, and not a crab but a lobster. Nevertheless a good range of subjects with pretty decent shots!

I was stunned by the range of subjects as well !!

Quite a lot of spottings I have no idea what they are !!
Nevertheless those 2 you mention certainly no excuse to make mistakes
Will send you shortly.

Originally Posted by lovells19 Ohhhh i love the land shots!!! really nice. they to get closer like what ugin says. but don't squash the creature lol

UW shots 99% mine, Land shots 1%. The rest is taken by my gf, the site is hers.

I face 2 challenges trying to go closer :

1) The flash blocked by lens port
2) Difficulty in getting focus lock on the subject.

Any suggestions ?

[frisky]

Originally Posted by Nik-enduser My feedback - 1) the lens port is blocking the flash for some close-up shots. Try to take pic not too close and use PS to crop. 2) Use the silica gel packs always when diving as the camera heats up and causes condensation, that's why some images are blurr. A cheap alternative is to buy the silica gel from camera shop (cost less than $5) and seal them yourself using mesh tea bags and trim to size. 3) for the night dive shots, try using LED torch as the halogen torch leaves a yellow hot spot (apparent from several pics). 4) try cropping more of your pics to bring out the subject.

Sorry I am a bit confused : Isn't 1 & 4 the opposite thing? Or are you refering to cropping after shooting?

I did put silica gel in a piece of folded paper, but still faced condensation issue on 2 of the 13 dives I brought the camera down. 1 was because the silica gel was used up and the other was because it was the packing wasn't properly done. I did find that method rather awkard and prone to problem. The Mesh tea bags sounds like a good idea, but do you mean taking tea out and tea bags and replacing them with Silica Gel? Or are there some other ways of getting them?

Unfortunately I do not have any underwater LED torches. Is there any that you'll like to recommend? What I tried was to focus with my torch and then move it away for the shot. What I didn't expect is the torch from my buddy who is trying to help

[Morphis]

Good try.
At least you capture wat ya r shootin.
Btw, ya picture no.38 is not a crab.
It's a spiny lobster (panulirus versicolor).
http://www.centralpets.com/animals/f...s/swi1788.html

[aQuApHiLe]

Hey, considering the fact it wasn't your camera, those are not bad, except for some that seem to have a lack of focus on the subject, composition-wise.

I am, like some of the rest, really impressed by the variety of subjects. Makes me wanna go to Manado already, if you could capture so much there. Got friends who just returned from there, and only showed me a few lionfish and bannerfish.

I'm pretty new to UW photography, and among my friends, nobody has mentioned about silica gel packs to me. (aah, so suaku!) So I'd like to know more about this.


aQuApHiLe
____________
w.a.t.e.r is life

[frisky]

Originally Posted by aQuApHiLe Hey, considering the fact it wasn't your camera, those are not bad, except for some that seem to have a lack of focus on the subject, composition-wise. I am, like some of the rest, really impressed by the variety of subjects. Makes me wanna go to Manado already, if you could capture so much there. Got friends who just returned from there, and only showed me a few lionfish and bannerfish. I'm pretty new to UW photography, and among my friends, nobody has mentioned about silica gel packs to me. (aah, so suaku!) So I'd like to know more about this. aQuApHiLe ____________ w.a.t.e.r is life

I think more of the interesting subjects were captured in Lembeh. So those diving in bunaken alone might miss those subjects. That might be the reason your friend didn't have other photos to show you?

From my limited understanding of the fogging issue, it is caused by a combination of the camera heating up the moist air within the casing, which then gets cooled by the cold water.

Reducing the heating (turning off camera when not in use, using a more power efficient camera) will help reducing the problem.
While removing the moisure (using silica gel to absorb the moisure, or load in aircon room which has drier air) will prevent fogging from appearing.

[frisky]

Originally Posted by Morphis Good try. At least you capture wat ya r shootin. Btw, ya picture no.38 is not a crab. It's a spiny lobster (panulirus versicolor). http://www.centralpets.com/animals/f...s/swi1788.html

Thanks, updating in progress.......

[lovells19]

last time when i was in manado i didn't have time to turn the camera off lor haha

oh yeah, i only saw the lens port shadow pictures later, then no choice lah, either get a strobe hehehe or know how near the camera can go without creating the shadow,

but usually we all get very carried away with the subject and forget all about the lensport :P
try off the flash and use a torch with white light?