Techniques of approaching the subject

[sorvju-f]

Many of the UW-subjects are shy and difficult to approach.

What kind of tricks you are using to get close enough?

I sometimes use "round the corner technics", means if your subject is hiding behind something I will suprise it behind the suitable corner with camera sets ready...somethimes succeed sometimes not!

Jukka

[Jonathan Bird]

Sometimes, a rebreather is the ticket. Sometimes just sitting there a long time waiting for something to get used to you works well. For video of something that doesn't move much, like a blenny and blind shrimp in a hole, sometimes I set up the camera on a tripod, hit start, and leave! I think patience is definitely a virtue. I have spent more than one dive parked in front of a garden eel burrow waiting for the thing to come out! (If you wait long enough, they do!)

Jonathan

[sorvju-f]

Sometimes, a rebreather is the ticket. Sometimes just sitting there a long time waiting for something to get used to you works well. For video of something that doesn't move much, like a blenny and blind shrimp in a hole, sometimes I set up the camera on a tripod, hit start, and leave! I think patience is definitely a virtue. I have spent more than one dive parked in front of a garden eel burrow waiting for the thing to come out! (If you wait long enough, they do!)

Jonathan

When you are using tripod, have you ever used remote control for the camera. I have remote control unit for above water pics....I dont know is the signal strong enough under water?

Of course you buddy can be the one the subject is running away straigt to you camera;)

Jukka

[Daniel]

When you are using tripod, have you ever used remote control for the camera. I have remote control unit for above water pics....I dont know is the signal strong enough under water?

Of course you buddy can be the one the subject is running away straigt to you camera;)

Jukka
Assuming the remote control (is it IR, RF or some other signal transmission technology?) works underwater, you'd still need some sort of housing for it.

Apparently they now have housings for iPODS. :rolleyes:

Cheers!
Daniel :)

[Warren_L]

Sometimes, a rebreather is the ticket. Sometimes just sitting there a long time waiting for something to get used to you works well. For video of something that doesn't move much, like a blenny and blind shrimp in a hole, sometimes I set up the camera on a tripod, hit start, and leave! I think patience is definitely a virtue. I have spent more than one dive parked in front of a garden eel burrow waiting for the thing to come out! (If you wait long enough, they do!)

Jonathan

A rebreather can certainly make a big difference. I noticed pretty well right away that I'm able to get closer to fish without spooking them. Often times they go on about their business not minding me. It can be quite interesting.

[Jonathan Bird]

Assuming the remote control (is it IR, RF or some other signal transmission technology?) works underwater, you'd still need some sort of housing for it.


The problem with IR remotes underwater is that IR is very quickly absorbed by water. We are only too familiar with how limited a distance red travels underwater. Now imagine a wavelength even longer than that. I can't imagine that an IR remote would work from far enough away to be practical.

Jonathan

[Jonathan Bird]

A rebreather can certainly make a big difference. I noticed pretty well right away that I'm able to get closer to fish without spooking them. Often times they go on about their business not minding me. It can be quite interesting.

But as Howard Hall once said, fish have eyes. Rebreathers make you quieter but not invisible!

[sorvju-f]

I remember Cousteau used mirrow in one film to get object to get closer...have you pros (or nonpros) ever tried that?

Jukka

[Warren_L]

But as Howard Hall once said, fish have eyes. Rebreathers make you quieter but not invisible!

Yes, however the whole point isn't that you're less visibile than on open circuit. The noise factor of a CCR (or lack thereof) is still a huge advantage in its own right compared to open circuit. As well, some critters have very poor vision and the advantage of CCR is even greater in these instances.

[ScubaDundee]

As an Instructor, I spend a lot of time in the water, about 900 dives a year. Fish do not like to be chased, always approach slowley, but more importantly your breathing is the key factor. Fish do not like the sound of your bubbles. So regulate your breathing, treat your air tank like it was a martini cocktail, sip your air slowley and deeply and breath out slowley. This reduces the noise levels and you will find fish will hang around you for that Kodak moment.

[Papa Bear]

It is not just bubbles and fish do have eyes. Their nervous systems are different and reactive. They react more to the bubbles movement than the sound. If you move slowly and hold position for long periods of time you become a part of the reef. Kinda "Become the Reef Grasshopper"! You can see this behavior with Neon Blennys if you trust your hand out and chase them you will never catch them, but lay your hand still on the cleaning station and it is covered with them cleaning you. I have even had them swarm the camera to where you can't get the picture because they are on the camera! This is what is hard about shooting where you have to follow the DM and why we end up at the back of the line. But if patient all the stuff comes out after everyone has passed. The other key is knowing behavior of the subject. Drum fish never go anywhere except back and forth, no need to rush! Arrow Blennys are territorial as well and don't go far from where you spot them!

[Jonathan Bird]

Yes, however the whole point isn't that you're less visibile than on open circuit. The noise factor of a CCR (or lack thereof) is still a huge advantage in its own right compared to open circuit. As well, some critters have very poor vision and the advantage of CCR is even greater in these instances.

I think we agree in general, but you are missing my (admittedly) minor point. A rebreather is better by far than open circuit for approaching critters. But many non-rebreather divers seem to feel that they are like a cloak of invisibility allowing a diver to swim right up to things, and it just isn't true. A rebreather makes you quieter for sure, and allows you to blend in better, but the fish can still see you! So you need to be still, move in s-l-o-w-l-y, and still do all the things you would do to approach animals on open circuit. The difference is that because it is quieter, you will probably have better luck.

Jonathan

[Papa Bear]

I still think movement, even bubble movement is more important than the noise factor. Re breathers are great but not always practical! I agree that all the tools are better, but sometimes you have to go to war with the army you have not the one you want!:D

[sorvju-f]

I still think movement, even bubble movement is more important than the noise factor. Re breathers are great but not always practical! I agree that all the tools are better, but sometimes you have to go to war with the army you have not the one you want!:D

I think its better if you can use the best way your existing army:rolleyes:

Jukka

[andyt]

I think its better if you can use the best way your existing army:rolleyes:

Jukka

I dive mostly on a rebreather, to be honest I am no sure it makes a great deal of difference when shooting macro. It certainly helps with bigger critters.

Recently I have been using a longer macro lens (150mm) this makes it easier to get close to small animals - but the lens is a bit difficult to get used to and you can only shoot small stuff. Here is a shot with the 150mm lens that would have been difficult to get with my 50mm.

[tarczy]

Recently I have been using a longer macro lens (150mm) this makes it easier to get close to small animals - but the lens is a bit difficult to get used to and you can only shoot small stuff.

Andy-

I've been contemplating acquiring this Canon 180mm Macro lens (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=155&modelid=7324)for awhile now. You're the first person who has admitted shooting underwater images with anything longer than a 105mm.

Could you please elaborate on the advantages and disadvantages for using a 150mm Macro lens? Why is your 150mm "difficult to get used to?"

Thanks in advance.

Mark

[andyt]

Andy-

I've been contemplating acquiring this Canon 180mm Macro lens (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=155&modelid=7324)for awhile now. You're the first person who has admitted shooting underwater images with anything longer than a 105mm.

Could you please elaborate on the advantages and disadvantages for using a 150mm Macro lens? Why is your 150mm "difficult to get used to?"

Thanks in advance.

Mark

Hi Mark

The big advantage is that it allows you to put some space between the end of the port and the subject. Previously I was using a 50mm lens, to get 1:1 the port was almost touching the subject, which makes strobe placement difficult and tend to scare critters away. Using this lens (sigma 150mm macro) there is a lot more room to play with and it is easier to place the strobes.

The down side is that you really can only shoot macro unless the water is very clear. The field of view is very narrow, which can make it difficult to find your subject in the view finder and you get a bit less depth of field. Also it is a fairly big beast - but luckily its close to neutral in the water so that does not really matter. Currently I am using it in auto focus mode, which works fairly well, but the lens sometimes 'hunts' in low light.

I wanted a lens that would give me a slightly different perspective and I think this one does that. My next step is to add a teleconverter to get in really close.

My take is that you certainly would not want a long lens as your only macro, but if you are diving sites that have some small stuff then it is a very nice option to have.

Good luck with the 180mm lens.

Andy

[tarczy]

Andy-

Thanks for the pros and cons of the 150mm macro lens. Great feedback!!

Do you have some other pics shot with the 150mm that you would care to share? Maybe you can provide us a link to a slideshow or something. :cool:

Mark

[andyt]

Andy-

Thanks for the pros and cons of the 150mm macro lens. Great feedback!!

Do you have some other pics shot with the 150mm that you would care to share? Maybe you can provide us a link to a slideshow or something. :cool:

Mark

I don't have a lot of shots yet, as this is still a very new lens. Here are a few from a couple of weekends ago.

[Clay Coleman]

Nice shots, Andrew! -Clay

[sorvju-f]

I don't have a lot of shots yet, as this is still a very new lens. Here are a few from a couple of weekends ago.

Some of these are having much bigger depht of yield...are you trying to get really close or are you accepting "longer" distance?

Jukka

[andyt]

Some of these are having much bigger depht of yield...are you trying to get really close or are you accepting "longer" distance?


I think the gobies were shot at minimum focus. Some of the others were up to about one meter away.

[sorvju-f]

I think the gobies were shot at minimum focus. Some of the others were up to about one meter away.

Maybe more far pics are having bigger depth of yield?

How about strobes power...TTL or?

PS I am often checking what set the member is having...its easy to add to your public profile...camera, lenses, stobe(s)!

Jukka