Diving with a new lens
Underwater Photography - trying out a new lens and creative techniques
Diving on the dive boat Giant Stride out of Marina rey dey for 3 dives, I thought to myself, macro, super-macro or wide-angle? Those are usually my only three choices, but today I decided for something out of the ordinary - mid-range!
I brought out my $100 nikon 18-55mm lens, large dome port, +2 hoya diopter, and my zoom ring from my tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens. The zoom ring was a little large for the 18-55mm lens, but after putting a little velcro on the lens, the zoom ring fit fairly well.
You can read my Nikon 18-55mm lens review.
A mid-range zoom lens gave me the perfect chance to try out some more creative underwater photography techniques. I used a dSLR camera, but many of these techniques like panning and slow shutter speed can work with a compact camera also.
Blacksmith fish in motion. F11, 1/5th shutter speed
Panning photo, single blacksmith swimming away. F11, 1/3rd
Blacksmith feeding, you can see one with it's mouth open. F11, 1/8th
zooming while photographing these fish. F10, 1/5th
Why are these bat stars all curling up? F13, 1/50th
Blacksmith feeding, with it's mouth coming out. The flash freezes the action. F11, 1/13th
zooming in while photographing my dive buddy underwater. F10, 1/8th
Horn shark swimming away. F14, 1/125th
A mid-range lens is perfect for fish photos like this one. F13, 1/160th
A combination of side-lighting and back-lighting lit up these underwater sea fans in Malibu nicely. F14, 1/200th
Rotating the camera clockwise while taking the photo. I wish I had a better background in this photograph. F10, 1/8th
Further Reading
