Some of my first photos with A6300

Master of the Universe wrote:

Hi Hector,

nice shots, especially for a beginner. I have few tips for you.

Thanks. I said I am relatively new to UW photography but I have already shot a few dozens times, although it is true most times are not dedicated dives and I do it with buddies not really interested in photography and, more or less i have to be at the rhythm of the group.

1: In most shots you used f18-22. You get lots of difraction and the shots look soft. When you crop radically on top of that, the problem really kicks in. Use f11 or less and you will see a clear difference. The sweet spot of your lens is normally around f5,6.

Most of the shots uploaded are close-up. It is true what you say about difraction. Maybe I will have to find a compromise. in close-up/macros I tend to use high F numbers due to DoF and most times i am using a +6 diopter which makes DoF even narrower. Besides, I like dark backgrounds and the A6300 max Sync speed is 1/160, so again a compromise: dark backgrounds or less soft shots.

At f5.6 I will have to pull power down in strobes. In macro I used them very close to port pointing practically against the other.

2: It looks to me you have used just one strobe in most of these shots. The strobes are not cheap but two of them will make a huge difference compared to just one. It gives you way more flexibility and ability to really have an impact in the lighting. Anyways you need to train lighting on dry land a lot to make it good underwater. And I can guarantee training will pay back all the time and trouble.

The shots uploaded were taken in the 6 or 7 first dives with the A6300. The tray I had used with my late G7X was not wide enough to accommodate comfortably the Seafrogs Salted Line, so in the very first dives I took one arm out and dived with only one Strobe until I got a new tray. I am using one YS-01 and one old and solid Nikonos 105. Another Ys-01 is to be ordered soon to have a real matched pair)

3: If you have time take as many shots per subject as possible. Try chancing strobe's position and power. Try different angles and framing.

Good suggestions. I normally try to do it. And maybe I change strobes positions too much, just trying out but honestly I think that I do this because I do not really know in advance which position (and power) are better for a particular situation.  With Macros, as I said the most common position is face to face but some times I try some "Innovative" positions but most of the times are useless or ineffective

4: Last but not least take a very, very good look at the subject and what's around it. Take the first shots. Then think. Concentrate and think again. Remember underwater you are way, way more stupid than on dry land. Diving itself takes a big bunch of your brain capacity and that diminishes your creativity. And that's why training really pays off.

Without diminishing value of your first suggestions this is where I really need to work more.  I need to think in advance what I want to shoot, then do it "peacefully" thinking and rethinking every shot.  Employing more time to fine subjects and scenes of interest. I finish a dive and then realize that I have done things in a different way.

And, finally, do more photo-session dedicated dives because most of the time I dive in groups not involved in photography and have to take their path.

Thanks again for your review and suggestions