Underwater Photography

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Tayana42

Do you have a good recipe for eating your words? But that would belong in the other thread.


S/V B'Shert

"A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" .

SWL

[Seaworthy Lass]

The Black Sea Urchin (Arbacia lixula):
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbacia_lixula

These pitch black little balls stick out a mile. I usually see them on the rock hard calcified algae that they feed on (they do a little housekeeping by cleaning the small filamentous algae from its surface). The spines look nasty, but don't deter the decorator crab I photographed earlier from eyeing them off come dinner time. Humans are also predators - the gonads of sea urchins are considered a delicacy by many.

I am slowly learning to recognise the flora. A few 'white scroll algae' are at the edges of this photo. The white rock like substance is actually algae (anyone know what the black holes in it are?).
I smiled finding the tiny white flower like plants are known as 'Mermaid's cups' .

Freediving @4m, Sporades, NW Aegean, Greece, August 2015:

[Seaworthy Lass]

I occasionally see sand coloured stingrays here in the Med, but they are usually so small that the first reaction is "cute" rather than "impressive". Although still tiny by Aussie standards, today's was a bit bigger than the norm with a span of about 40 cm.

I was with Noelex at the time doing a late inspection of the anchorage and he gave me a nudge when he spotted this ray leisurely meandering along the bottom. I knew he would take off as soon as I was close (the ray, not Noelex ), so I swam further along before diving down. Luckily he didn't deviate much, instead skimmed straight under me and rose to gather speed once he got going. Great photo opportunity .

This is the Common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca):
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_stingray

Freediving @ 6m, Sporades, NW Aegean, Greece, August 2015:

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

I occasionally see sand coloured stingrays here in the Med, but they are usually so small that the first reaction is "cute" rather than "impressive". Although still tiny by Aussie standards, today's was a bit bigger than the norm with a span of about 40 cm.

I was with Noelex at the time doing a late inspection of the anchorage and he gave me a nudge when he spotted this ray leisurely meandering along the bottom. I knew he would take off as soon as I was close (the ray, not Noelex ), so I swam further along before diving down. Luckily he didn't deviate much, instead skimmed straight under me and rose to gather speed once he got going. Great photo opportunity .

This is the Common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca):
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_stingray

Freediving @ 6m, Sporades, NW Aegean, Greece, August 2015:

It looks like it is flying, not swimming. It looks like your post work is having the same "problem" mine is having when I shoot anchors, loosing all feel of being UW.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by hoppy

It looks like it is flying, not swimming. It looks like your post work is having the same "problem" mine is having when I shoot anchors, loosing all feel of being UW.

I am not shooting in 'raw', and I'm modifying little other than straightening and cropping and altering brightness, so it is the camera's post work rather than mine that is the issue.

Below is the original of one of the stingray shots. The framing is very much pot luck underwater with moving objects. Any suggestions on how I can improve things otherwise would be greatly appreciated . I am keen to learn how to take and present better photos.

At the moment I am just using a simple app (Snapseed) to play with the image.

SWL

The original:

[hoppy]

maybe murky waters is needed for the UW effect

or perhaps it's the shooting from above that causes the loss of feel

[Muckle Flugga]

Originally Posted by daletournier

Thresher shark of Malapascua Island Philippines. They are usually very deep , so have to dive very early morning when come up for cleaning.

Sent from my GT-N7105T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

Wow! Fantastic shot! I have never seen a Thresher shark in decades of diving around the world (mostly while sailing hither and thither) and it is on my red list of extreme desirability. Even to see one is a privilege, to have photographed one, and clearly is for a WIN. Sweet. And thanks

[southace]

I took these pics last week I'm a amateur Australian underwater photographer I use a canon g12 with a ilelite housing.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[southace]

A few from the Great Barrier Reef (Lizard Island).


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[LakeSuperior]

Took this shot last week on Isle Royale. It is the galley light on the Emperor, a large steel freighter that went down in the 40's.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by southace

Attachment 107095Attachment 107096Attachment 107097Attachment 107098Attachment 107099

I took these pics last week I'm a amateur Australian underwater photographer I use a canon g12 with a ilelite housing.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

Impressive beasts. That second frame where one is turning toward you is certainly not my preferred view of a shark!

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by southace

I took these pics last week I'm a amateur Australian underwater photographer I use a canon g12 with a ilelite housing.

I think I would feel more comfortable being in a housing too when encountering those .

Were the shots taken near Lizard Island as well?

SWL

[southace]

South Australia cage diving


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by southace

South Australia cage diving

We were cruising the islands south of Port Lincoln early last year on a friend's boat (several shark viewing trips left from PL).

My time in the water was very limited given the risks, but I could not resist one swim with seals. Now that was an amazing experience! The risks added an extra edge . I will hunt up some shots. They were the first time our underwater camera was used.

SWL

[southace]

You can swim safely at Hopkins island south of Port Lincoln with Australian sea lions. Which is the name of your friends boat?


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum