Post by ZF on May 24, 2012 8:06:20 GMT -5
Black background
===========
Goal is to illuminate the subject but shut out surrounding light.
As such, try not to have anything in the background that can reflect light, e.g corals.
Empty column of water is the best. That's why its good to shoot from bottom up.
First set fast shutter, say 1/250 on DSLR, 1/500 on compact
Set a high f.stop DSLR f16 or higher, compact around f.6.3 or higher
Playing with the shutter speed will give you either blue or black background.
General Setting
==========
Default the setting to F4, 1/125th sec and ISO 200.
F8 if DSLR
F4 if Compact
Shutter speed
1/30th for still objects,
1/60th for slow moving objects
1/125th of faster for faster moving fish.
Aperture priority mode (Av Mode)
You choose the aperture, and the camera will choose the shutter speed, usually the camera sync speed of 1/60th. By choosing F8, you can block out as much ambient light as possible, resulting in a photo that has better color, contrast and sharpness. This is the preferred mode if you are trying to get TTL with an Inon or Sea & Sea strobe with a Canon compact camera.
Shutter priority mode (Tv mode)
You choose the shutter speed, and the camera chooses the aperture. This can be useful when you need to freeze the motion of a fast-moving object such as a sea lion or shark, when 1/60th of a second might be too slow.
For wide angle, keep to max 1 meter
Macro Shots
=======
Close-up shots in macro mode, forced flash, auto-white balance, spot-focus, with the subject no more than 5-6 inches away. Aperture priority (AV) mode if available, F8, otherwise program mode.
Set camera to "lock focus" and wait.
For macro shots, user larger f stop ( f8 and above ) to see more stuff.
For Bokeh shots, drop to f6.
For auto focus mode, use single servo such that the photo CANNOT be taken without a sharp focus
Continuous is for moving objects or schooling fish
Strobe Configuration
==============
Keep the flash above the housing and behind the port, POINTING SLIGHTLY UPWARDS regardless of the camera's orientation.
You will get good lighting regardless of which way your subject faces, and as a bonus most of the shadows will fall behind the subject. The light will be clean because of the edge-lighting technique.
Recommended to redo white setting for every 5-10feet for P&S camera without flash
===========
Goal is to illuminate the subject but shut out surrounding light.
As such, try not to have anything in the background that can reflect light, e.g corals.
Empty column of water is the best. That's why its good to shoot from bottom up.
First set fast shutter, say 1/250 on DSLR, 1/500 on compact
Set a high f.stop DSLR f16 or higher, compact around f.6.3 or higher
Playing with the shutter speed will give you either blue or black background.
General Setting
==========
Default the setting to F4, 1/125th sec and ISO 200.
F8 if DSLR
F4 if Compact
Shutter speed
1/30th for still objects,
1/60th for slow moving objects
1/125th of faster for faster moving fish.
Aperture priority mode (Av Mode)
You choose the aperture, and the camera will choose the shutter speed, usually the camera sync speed of 1/60th. By choosing F8, you can block out as much ambient light as possible, resulting in a photo that has better color, contrast and sharpness. This is the preferred mode if you are trying to get TTL with an Inon or Sea & Sea strobe with a Canon compact camera.
Shutter priority mode (Tv mode)
You choose the shutter speed, and the camera chooses the aperture. This can be useful when you need to freeze the motion of a fast-moving object such as a sea lion or shark, when 1/60th of a second might be too slow.
For wide angle, keep to max 1 meter
Macro Shots
=======
Close-up shots in macro mode, forced flash, auto-white balance, spot-focus, with the subject no more than 5-6 inches away. Aperture priority (AV) mode if available, F8, otherwise program mode.
Set camera to "lock focus" and wait.
For macro shots, user larger f stop ( f8 and above ) to see more stuff.
For Bokeh shots, drop to f6.
For auto focus mode, use single servo such that the photo CANNOT be taken without a sharp focus
Continuous is for moving objects or schooling fish
Strobe Configuration
==============
Keep the flash above the housing and behind the port, POINTING SLIGHTLY UPWARDS regardless of the camera's orientation.
You will get good lighting regardless of which way your subject faces, and as a bonus most of the shadows will fall behind the subject. The light will be clean because of the edge-lighting technique.
Recommended to redo white setting for every 5-10feet for P&S camera without flash