Snoot photograpy

[Ken Hawk]

Has anyone had a go at it.
The boat this weekend was full, so we went for a shallow shore dive and I thought I would give it a go.
Didn't quite go to plan, then Rome wasn't built in a day.

Here are some of the results.

First of all I made a snoot.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/Rez.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/Rez2.jpg

I was using the 100mm macro, that was mistake number 1.
I should have put the wide angle on for my first go.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/Snoot/Anome.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/Snoot/Anemone2.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/Snoot/Anemone.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/Snoot/Goby.jpg

More pics to follow

Thanks Ken

[Salty]

nicely done Ken. Very creative way of going about it. Gives me some ideas.

Thanks

[Andrew]

Hi Ken,

Good first attempt! I was only reading about this the other week and thought it sounded interesting. Maybe a 50mm Macro would be a good start as it would take you back a bit and you would see the beam of light more? I am guessing it is not that easy to point the beam on the subject, line up the picture through the viewfinder and take the shot?! Did you have the light on the strobe on so that you had some guidance when lining up?

Your snoot looks very professional... can you talk us through how you made it? One part looks like a flower pot and another a bottle top?

Cheers
Andrew

[Ken Hawk]

I only have the 100mm macro lens :( so will try a WA next time.

Yep it is made from a plant pot a christmas pudding tub a bottle top and a hose protector, all glued together with Araldite.
The idea behind the bottle top was to make different size tubes on the end.
The mark 2 will have a larger top with maybe 2 tubes ;)
I did use the modeling light and it is a pain to aim, I may get the wife to do the aiming next time.
Aiming the strobe is also hard in bright conditions, it would be easy if it was a dark dive.
I was also in manual focus which made framing hard as I had the strobe in one hand and the camera in the other.

[Ken Hawk]

A few more

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/Snoot/Lionsmain3.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/Snoot/Lionsmain2.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/Snoot/Lionsmain.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/Snoot/HermitCrab3.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/Snoot/HermitCrab.jpg

I pulled the snoot off for this one as It was the first John Dory the wife has seen in 500 dives, I have only seen 3 myself, and this is my first pic of one.
Shame I cut the fins off :rolleyes:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d151/buchhawk/Snoot/Dory.jpg

[Jonathan Bird]

Keri Wilk has done some pretty neat snoot shots that I have seen in the photo competitions of late. It strikes me as sort of a "specialty" shot with limited applications. Doesn't really do much for me I have to admit.

[Andrew]

Love the John Dory Ken, I have seen them here but never when I have my camera with me!

I would actually love to have a go with it, but it must be difficult to find the right subject to take which would benefit from it and that hasn't already been taken before. I imagine somewhere in the Far East would be good with some great macro animals and fish to take.

Andrew

[Andrew]

Love the John Dory Ken, I have seen them here but never when I have my camera with me!

I would actually love to have a go with it, but it must be difficult to find the right subject to take which would benefit from it and that hasn't already been taken before. I imagine somewhere in the Far East would be good with some great macro animals and fish to take.

Andrew

[Salty]

I was thinking this would make a great back light on translucent subjects or where a small beam of light is needed to separate the subject from the background similar to a hair light. The DS models.(flash) has a slave sensor allowing it to be triggered by another strobe with a Manual Controller for power output. This snoot would be perfect for that application.

[sorvju-f]

This is unknown to me...what you are trying and what equipments?

Jukka

[Ken Hawk]

Here Jukka ;)

http://www.divephotoguide.com/underwater-photography-techniques/article/underwater-snoot-photography/

[sorvju-f]

Here Jukka ;)

http://www.divephotoguide.com/underwater-photography-techniques/article/underwater-snoot-photography/

Thanks Ken! Understood...short of making difference to picture by special light head increasing selectivity of light target.

Jukka

[Salty]

Here Jukka ;)

http://www.divephotoguide.com/underwater-photography-techniques/article/underwater-snoot-photography/

I'll try making one out of a plunger encase I run into any #$%^ down there.

I like that gorilla tripod idea too... Maybe a smaller light though, :D

[Ken Hawk]

I'll try making one out of a plunger encase I run into any #$%^ down there.

I like that gorilla tripod idea too... Maybe a smaller light though, :D

I will use the wife as a gorila pod next time :D

It give us something else to try on the same old same old dives ;)

[Andrew]

Great article... I was thinking of the plunger idea being rubber and flexible to mount. Seems like a lot of faff with the tripod, slave sensor, etc! You need someone else to carry the gear or a backpack!

Ken, I am sure you would not say that to your wife :eek:

[docrobina]

The snoot is particularly good when the subject blends into the background too much. By concentrating the strobe light, I am able to isolate my subject better. :)

I have have found that it seems to decrease backscatter in the image, too.

[Andrew]

Hi Docrobina,

Do you have any pictures you have taken with the snoot?

Andrew