Photo & Videography

Edited by Peter Symes

Schools of fishes are not easy subjects! To They are two nice ways to have a school of current. By approaching them from the compose such a number of animals in the fish on the picture: Static and in action. The front and by shooting as fast as you can, frame is rather difficult, because they should techniques are more or less the same. Search the static image will change in a view have a collective position, movement or eye for schools in strong currents. Here, they stay second to an action image. A strobe with look. close together like walls facing against the a fast reload cycle makes it more easy. Fish PhotographyText and photos by Kurt Amsler

Shooting fish with a camera isn’t easy! Unlike people they are per- Eye contact is a must in fish photog- fectly adapted to the aquatic environment, hydro-dynamically raphy. Not only does it give a good shaped and in all their colourful splendour, they are completely expression to the viewer, but also, if you approach a fish from the front, it will ignorant of any directions given by the photographer’s end. So, to remain longer at its position, because it get that perfect shot, we need a strategy—and the right equipment. wants to see what is going on

75 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED This picture was need the right flash. TTL- metered strobes exposed with f:8 / are ideal for the subject distances usually 1/15 of a second seen in fish photography, because at a shutter speed and set “working” f-stop, a wide range of dis- the strobe on TTL. tances are covered, and our usually fast The camera was set silver on the second shut- moving subjects will be perfectly exposed Photo & ter curtain to have anywhere within that range. the strobe fired at Bigger fish require a change of strat- Videography the beginning of egy, both for lens and lighting. Once you the exposure time. graduate to larger than diver size, say The most important a whale shark, we once more have to to get a proper blur resort to the super-wide angle lenses to effect is to swing improve contrast and definition. In this the camera in the case, we switch the strobe to “manual”, same speed the because no TTL-program can correctly subjects move! To avoid overexposed compensate for that half of the flash background always light that just vanishes into the deep blue choose place with water instead of being bounced back off low ambient light a subject. For any size of scaly subjects, auto focus lenses are an advantage, especially cameras with focus tracking. With Shoot first, focus and lighting being taken care of by technology, the photographer can fully think later! concentrate on fish behaviour and com-

Hardware Caution is a useful behavioural would be changing their natural trait for many inhabitants on a behaviour, and your newly won tropical reef. It can be a matter scaly friend may soon enough of survival. Trying to capture a be facing the business end of a full format image of sardine with spear gun or a hook before too cinema of dreams an ultra wide-angle lens is there- long. That is, if he survives that fore better left to the experts. The bad case of indigestion your creatures you meet underwater breakfast scraps gave him. also have a comfort zone which Apart from the right lens you you cannot penetrate—you need to keep a certain minimum distance. This is typically in the Most the time fish photography range of 0.7 to 1m. This makes the is fast and furiuos. This makes 28mm, 35mm and 50mm focal it just impossible to create length lenses the best choice effects with additional strobes. for pictures of fish that are 0.2 to Stationary subjects as this Leaf fish makes it possible to place 0.5m long fish. a small slave strobe on the side Getting close enough requires or even beyond. TTL-Mode is of a lot of experience unless you course the best setting for such are diving in a much visited spot close ups. If you use a regu- where fish have become accus- lar slave strobe make sure it is www.seacam.com tomed to divers. And speaking always weaker than your main of which, I would like to warn strobe. SEA&SEA makes the against resorting to feeding to famous YS-30 strobe which is attract them; by doing so, you only 12X7cm and works as slave strobe in TTL, without cable!

76 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED if you’re posing the image. to sets the camera and flash to that distance before slowly approaching ploughing Software the subject, without rapid movements. through the The ground rule for successful fish pho- “Bubble fright” can be minimised by tography is: shoot first, think later! In real exhaling through the mask rather than coral like terms, this means your camera has to the regulator. This strategy may seem Photo & the prover- be set up before you approach your clumsy and wasteful of precious dive bial bull in unsuspecting subject. Once within range, time, but ultimately it is the most success- Videography there won’t be any time to select pro- ful. a china shop, grams, focus or set f-stops. And the flash But these are only generalisations. To better point in the right direction, too! become an outstanding wildlife photog- even snails With practise and experience, the pho- rapher, it takes more than stealth and will resort to a tographer soon learns what subject dis- preparation. It also requires an under- hasty retreat tance is right to perfectly frame a fish of standing of the animal’s behaviour and a certain size. The camera is then preset its interactions with its environment. for that range, the flash adjusted. The rest is up to the individual’s diving skill, and-as Etiquette in the reef always, when shooting wild animals, a The more knowledge the photographer good portion of luck. brings to the job, the better he or she will be able to adapt to the situation Example: At a distance of about and predict what the fish will do next. All 80cm, a 50cm long grouper will be of which will dramatically increase the reproduced in full frame using a lens odds of excelling. But if you’re ploughing with a picture angle of approximately through the coral like the proverbial bull 45 degrees. The photographer then has in a china shop, even snails will resort to a hasty retreat. Good diving skills, therefore, are of the essence. You are much more likely to Many photographers never use super-wide- Next to good diving skills and camera successfully sneak up on some subject angel lenses for medium or even smaller handling, the knowledge about fish when you are neutrally buoyant, breath- fishes. Such pictures are spectacular because behaviour is—as already mentioned ing controlled and moving slowly. they show next to the main subject a wide —very important. The picture of this, only As with land animals, approach from view and great depth of field. The difficulty is 40 cm long, cuttlefish was taken with the the front, keeping eye contact at all just to get close enough!! 10.5mm NIKKOR fisheye lens times. This is less likely to trigger flight reflex as the animal sees what’s happen- ing, and curiosity may get the better of it. If the fish moves, you freeze. In most Wetpixel Quarterly cases, it will come back if not pursued, What is Wetpixel Quarterly? It’s and it is always better to remain patient a quarterly printed magazine (and motionless) than give chase. Just devoted to high-quality under- wait and keep that camera ready. water photography. Each issue of Wetpixel Quarterly Please, show some respect. features interviews, short arti- Chasing puffer fish through the reef until cles, open photography con- tests, and, most importantly, they pump up with water is as unac- pages upon pages of spec- ceptable as is poking animals out of their tacular imagery from waters crevasse homes with your snorkel, taming around the globe. Wetpixel moray eels by feeding so you can touch Quarterly also hopes to them, or riding turtles or manta rays. foster environmental stew- Instead, join the ranks of the true ardship by highlighting con- wildlife photographers, who enjoy the For most of our underwater images, especially with super-wide angle lenses, we should make the most servation concerns in each challenge of improving their knowledge of the sunlight. In contrast to macro, for example, creativity in fish photography is more limited. A way theme-based issue. and techniques to come up with an www.wetpixelquarterly.com to get some unusual pictures with a strong expression, is to use the ambient light. This picture was taken short before sunset. This time a day, you’ll get a nice reflection on the surface and warm soft light even better shot, one that shows natural behaviour in all its natural glory. ■

77 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Ocean Optics Open Day with Mark Webster – London, UK, 12 January 2008

Well known photographer and workshop host Mark Webster will be hosting a second open day with Ocean Optics in London on Saturday 12 January 2008. Mark will make two technique-based presentations during the day with plenty of opportunity to ask ques- tions and get advice on your equipment and technical problems. There will also be a short image critique session for specific issues. The Ocean Optics day is free, but it is necessary to book your place in advance. If you wish to bring images for critique, please let us know when you book. Time for this session is limited and will be booked on a first come, first serve, basis. Contact Ocean Optics for full details and to book your place: [email protected] Tel. (+44) 020 7240 8193 ■

OUR WORLD UNDERWATER 2008 3rd Annual Wetpixel and DivePhotoGuide International Hugyfot D300 Photo & Video Competition Hugyfot, manufacturer of housings with exquisite shape, has a new underwater housing for the Nikon D300 digital SLR Popular websites Wetpixel.com and camera. The first real housing is expected to be available DivePhotoGuide.com have teamed on October 20th, 2007, and will be on display during the up again in association with Our annual Festival Mondial de l’Image Sous Marine in Antibes, World Underwater to celebrate the France, from 24 - 28 October 2007. beauty and delicacy of the marine www.hugyfot.com environment with the announce- ment of the 3rd annual international underwater photography and video competition. The competition has become the “Superbowl” of international underwater imagery competi- tions, with world-class prizes, celebrity judges, and the opportunity to have Universal Housing UM190 your images showcased to the world for the new Sony Camcorder Generation. as some of the planet’s best. SEALUX Universal housing will fit more that 100 camcorder models and comes with integrated high-resolving 16:9 color Over $50,000 in prizes! monitor. Depth to 90m depth. All Sony camcorders, which α700 released are equipped with a LANC-socket for remote control, can Sony isn’t a camera name you hear MORE INFO be used if they are maximum 190mm long, 132mm wide tossed about by avid underwater and 116mm tall. The result is a solid and reliable universal photographers—but that could www.UnderwaterCompetition.com housing with the highest flexibility and easy handling. With change when Sony’s new 12.2MP minimal dimensions and the lightest weight, it fulfills the Alpha 700 DSLR shows up on the topical requirements. All Sony camcorders equipped docks. New Sony DSLR aims high with a LANC-socket for remote control can be used and should have deep appeal with this housing. They must not be larger than 190 writes Michael J. McNamara review- mm, wider than 132 mm or higher than 116mm. ing the camera on DivePhotoGuide www.sealux.de

78 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Very affordable SeaLife has begun shipping its new Mini Wide Angle lens. The Mini Wide Angle Lens is specially designed to fit the the ReefMaster Mini and ECOshot camera lines. The Mini Wide Angle lens increases the camera’s viewing angle by 43 percent. It also allows close-up pictures from 12 inches to infinity. The lens also completes the expandable system for the mini series of cameras. With a retail value of only US$79.95, the lens will make the ReefMaster and ECOshot on of the most affordable 6mp Dive camera systems. TTL Converter III for Nikon This converter is equipped with a built-in Based on methods workflow to post produc- professional photog- TTL PCB that connects a Nikon digital SLR employed by professional tion. For the photographer raphers. A generous with SEA&SEA YS-Series strobes and uses underwater photogra- who wishes to appreci- number of images the camera’s TTL flash adjustment to phers, the ADVANCED ate and embrace the art are used to illustrate control the amount of light put out by Guide for Digital of underwater imagery, the varied form of the strobe. The converter allows quick Underwater Photography techniques for success- underwater imag- switching underwater between TTL is packaged with practi- ful pictures are revealed ing. A special section mode and manual mode from outside cal techniques and use- in detail. The structured features images and the camera. You can use the TTL cor- ful information. Whether modules give comprehen- secrets from some of rection dial after checking the results you are a novice or sive descriptions about the world’s top under- of a shot in the LCD monitor to adjust a serious shooter, this the composition and water photographers— the amount of strobe light for the next state-of-the-art guide methods for ambient light David Doubilet, Doug shot. Because the converter comes will take your digital photography, macro and Perrine, Alex Mustard with two separate strobe connec- imaging proficiency to super macro, wide-angle and Stephen Frink. This tors, you can use advanced auto- the next level. imagery with and without is the most definitive matic TTL flash adjustment with two Expanding beyond a model to shooting with advanced guide avail- strobes. www.ikelite.com the basic and essen- filters, over and under able for digital under- tial aspects of digital images to shooting with water photography—a Built for underwater photog- HID lights. must have essential for the Global Traveler raphy, the content Advance yourself with any aspiring digital pho- is organised into five tutorials for the digital tographer. ■ The Gates FX7/V1 Housing is packed with pro features for the discerning modules encapsu- darkroom—photo edit- underwater enthusiast like iris, focus, ND filter and white balance controls, The ADVANCED guide lating advanced ing, colour and exposure US$26 or US$30 postage adjustable handle grips, optional EM43 high resolution color monitor and Gates for Digital Underwater digital imaging correction. This guide also included anywhere in the premium ports for the sharpest, clearest HD images. Yet, the FX7/V1 with SP44 knowledge, photo- includes information on world—AU$25 or Singapore port and 1620 Pelican rolling case weighs in under the 50lb/23kg airline bag- Photography graphic skills, asset digital asset manage- S$30. 132 pages, gage limit. The FX7/V1 comes with a two year renewable warranty. management, and ment systems adopted by 210mm x 150mm gateshousings.com Michael AW with Mathieu Meur

79 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Airline Carry-on Camera case with padded dividers

Protect your expensive photo equipment from airline damage or theft by rolling and carrying it on board. The 1510 is airline overhead bin compliant. The 17” retracting extension handle and polyurethane wheels will keep you moving between gates. www.peli.com

Aquatica D40X Housing Part of new line of products aimed at recreational divers, the underwater camera housings are designed and built for newer, smaller and less expensive digital SLR cameras, making high quality underwater photography more affordable for the recreational diver. Made of anodized aluminum and built around Aquatica’s well established bayonet port system, these new Aquatica housings will accommodate all current ports, extensions and gears. As well Aquatica is reintro- ducing its 6” dome port and has created a newer and more compact macro port for both this new housing and its current line of well established housings. www.aquatica.ca

39 Megapixel

Hasselblad—the Rolls Royce of cameras that went with the Apollo mission to the moon and back and the choice of many fashion photographers. As a medium-format camera there haven’t exactly been many housings around for this top- end brand, but credible sources in the camera housing industry have hinted that housings for the Hasselblads are under consideration. Talk about upping the ante! The new Hasselblad HD3 boasts a whopping 39 megapixels! Hasselblad.com

80 X-RAY MAG : 19 : 2007 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED