Underwater Close-up Photos

[jamesw]

Hi Folks,

I snuck offshore last weekend to Texas's very own Flower Garden Banks and tried out my new Sigma 150mm macro lens + Canon 500D diopter. It is EXTREMELY challenging to use underwater.

Anyhow, here are a few of my favorites:









Cheers
James

[laurielblack]

You'll have to excuse me...my first reaction was "Holy crap!"

Those are just beautiful!! I hope someday to get to do some underwater shots...but these are amazing! My favorites are the first and last ones. Thanks for posting them!! :) :D

[bburton]

James, these are stunning and worth whatever energy you had to go through to acquire them. :) Thanks for the effort on our behalf.

That lens with a 500D must have a fairly narrow DOF, yet your photos don't show much of this limitation. Is that what you meant by "challenging?"

What's the secret then?

[Roy]

Colors are fantastic. I have no idea what the subjects are but the photos are awesome.

[lscottpht]

They are all great, but I love that last one!!

[jamesw]

Thanks folks.

The orange cup coral (looks like an anemone) is roughly 1cm across. So this is "extreme" macro shooting. At f16 or f22, the DOF is less than 1cm.

So the reason it's challenging is finding the subject through the viewfinder, focusing on the subject (the RIGHT area of the subject) and setting your strobe power (there is no TTL).

I'm glad you all enjoyed the photos. I have some more at www.reefpix.org/gallery/underwater

Cheers
James

[Tims]

GOODNESS! :shock:
Really nice.
You are in "uncharted waters" for me.
:D

[Mongo]

Originally Posted by laurielblack

You'll have to excuse me...my first reaction was "Holy crap!"

Those are just beautiful!! I hope someday to get to do some underwater shots...but these are amazing! My favorites are the first and last ones. Thanks for posting them!! :) :D

I have to go with Lauriels first reaction as well. Fantastic shots!

[OversighT]

:shock: Wow! I did some underwater photography with my p&s while on vacation last month and thought that was tough. Dealing with a 1cm DOF using a macro lens is mind bogling.


T.

[mattchow]

what are you using as a housing?

[bohonk445]

These are great. How deep is Flower Gardens and about how far out? I've heard of it and may have even passed over it (NOT FISHED OVER IT) before.

[tjavery]

Very nice, James. Great photos!

[jamesw]

Thanks folks. I used a Seacam underwater housing for my camera and two small macro strobes. There's a photo in the gallery that shows a photo of my rig underwater:

http://www.reefpix.org/gallery/album122 (last photo).


Photo Dennis Fanning

The Dives at the Flower Gardens are from 65 to 100 feet deep. The funkiest fish are found in the deeper water.

Cheers
James