C&C, Philippines 2019 (TG5)

PHXAZCRAIG wrote:

J_dpr wrote:

I tried for a long time to capture the blacktips coming towards me, but these creatures are just so skittish, and I only had a minute or so at a time as I was freediving. I was happy to get the two crossing blacktips but subject separation should have been better - too much 'reef disturbance' going on in that shot.

To be honest, this is one reason I like underwater photography a lot. It's challenging in so many ways, and luck plays a part. It's very rewarding when you get a truly good shot. Even with scuba gear one tends to not have a lot of time to find a subject, get it in a decent composition, get the right white balance, and even just have it in focus. Doing it freediving makes it significantly harder. A lot harder than sitting around with a big lens on a tripod watching flying birds all day.

I tried getting freedive shots of sharks in Rangiroa in 2015, and couldn't really get the shot. I could only stay down about 10 seconds at a time, partly due to not having a weight belt. Here's the type of shot I got:

Same issue - couldn't get a shark looking my way.

There were a lot of fish there though:

Nice one with three sharks. I know what you mean. I carried 4 kg of lead in my checked luggage all the way to the Philippines. My wife thought I was crazy lol but was happy for it while there

I think the first shot is his best. The off center comp adds tension and drama. My only criticism is that many need a touch of fill light. A small strobe dialed down to 1/4 power would do.

NedStudio wrote:

They look all great !

Are you using any artificial light (strobes ? Continuous ?) ?

Thanks! No all are taken without artificial light at a max. depth of 10 meters (while freediving)

M Charles Joseph wrote:

I think the first shot is his best. The off center comp adds tension and drama. My only criticism is that many need a touch of fill light. A small strobe dialed down to 1/4 power would do.

Thanks for your comments and suggestion.

BillD7000 wrote:

These are all just gorgeous, and well worth aspiring to.

Thanks a lot for your kind words! Beautiful portfolio you’ve got on your zenfolio page!

Very nice work. Incredibly clear and colorful images. In free-diving : "chapeau"

Most images do not have points to criticize and many would be considered perfect (in my novice and personal opinion)

If I had to chose the ones that I like less, these are  4, 5 and  11.  I feel some kind of lost when watching.

Some had suggested in first photo to crop or compose differently to reduce dead space at right. Its true that there is a dead space but without it, there could be 3 clown fishes escaping the frame. I like this way or maybe with just a very little cropping.

Keep sharing

Hector1959 wrote:

Very nice work. Incredibly clear and colorful images. In free-diving : "chapeau"

Most images do not have points to criticize and many would be considered perfect (in my novice and personal opinion)

If I had to chose the ones that I like less, these are 4, 5 and 11. I feel some kind of lost when watching.

Some had suggested in first photo to crop or compose differently to reduce dead space at right. Its true that there is a dead space but without it, there could be 3 clown fishes escaping the frame. I like this way or maybe with just a very little cropping.

Keep sharing

Thanks a lot for your kind words and your constructive criticism. Much appreciated! I tend to agree about cropping the first one. I tried to crop it later in the thread but I don’t think ot really benefited from it. Thanks again.

Plankowner110 wrote:

Beautiful photos.

Thanks!

Breathtaking work! Very beautiful.

Thanks alot for your kind words! Hardly any pp apart from some cropping and minor color adjustment. They were taken at relatively shallow depths so lighting was very good.

Thanks alot, raybennet27!