Images Underwater Blog

Miniature / Small world

March 7th, 2010

Another in the shutterbug series, “Miniature / Small world”.
Following a friends “certified photoshop free” I thought I’d be brave and bare all!
These are all straight out of camera, not even a watermark, so DON’T steal.

“Out the toy box”
16mm, 1/13sec, F5.6, Av
Manual Focus (measured)
Tripod (yes inside the box)
Off camera flash top right.

“Abseiling”
16mm, 1/5sec, F5.6, Av
Off camera flash top center, to help texture.

“Run”
50mm, f5.6, 2/5sec, Av
Total -2/3 ev.
Flash low left.

“Back Step”
50mm, f5.6, 2/5sec, Av
Total -1/3 ev.
Tripod
Flash high right -1ev.

“Long grass”
100mm Macro, f2.8, 2.5 sec, Av
Tripod
Flash top right

“Freedom
50mm, f5.6, 25sec, Av, ISO 200.
(it was dark hence 25s & ISO200).
Tripod
Flash low right.

As always, comments, abuse and questions welcome.

Cheers,
Richard B.

><(()”>
Check out latest underwater exploits :-

http://www.images-underwater.net/

and

http://www.images-underwater.net/blog1/

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Nifty Fifty – got to love em !

March 7th, 2010

After my earlier trials and tribulations I managed to find a Sigma 1.4 with out any back focus issues, even took my own test chart.
As you can see it auto focused spot on the target line.

And here is a snap trying it out, lovely depth of field, smooth creamy bokeh.

Cheers,
Richard B.

><(()”>
Check out latest underwater exploits :-

http://www.images-underwater.net/

and

http://www.images-underwater.net/blog1/

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Niffty Fiffty, buyer beware !

February 28th, 2010

I have wanted a 50mm f1.? lens for a while and struggling with my options.

Canon 1.8
-ve : Only 1.8, feels like a kinder egg toy
+ve : Very very cheap.
Canon 1.4
-ve : Build quality hit and miss, not an ‘L’ lens, only 5 blades.
+ve : Canon brand
Canon 1.2
-ve: Very expensive and will it be worth it.
+ve : ‘L’ Series
Sigma 1.4
-ve : Not canon, Build quality hit and miss.
+ve : 1.4, 9 round blades, large front lens so will take my P filters
After much pondering I finally decided to go for the Sigma but to test it carefully, and boy glad I did !

The problem all fast lenses have is that at the max aperture the DOF is so small that the auto focus can be off, either front or back focusing. This isn’t normally a problem if your shooting at f6 as the DOF is quite deep but at f1.4 close up on a 50mm depth of field is only about 20mm so its critical.

To test the best way is to photograph a sheet of text at 45 degree angle so the text runs from in front of focus, at focus , to behind point of focus.
Set the center AF focus point only (but NOT manual focus) and shoot away.

This is more (or less) what you should get, but bear in mind these are hand held at high ISO.
The focus point is set on the AF-S 50mm 1.4.

More or less okay :-

Sadly this is the results I got :-

As you can see this is quite a way behind the autofocus point.

Needless to say I didn’t buy this lens, but it is very subject to manufacturing so every lens (sigma, canon, even L series) can suffer so YOU MUST TRY BEFORE YOU BUY. Next time you buy a fast lens make sure you give it a try.
In the mean time I’ll keep up my hunt for a niffty fifty.

p.s. You can also get very retentiveve with tripods, flashes, printed test cards etc. but I think lens testing and pixel counting is for people who can’t take photos so have to justify there “photographic existence with statistics.

Cheers,
Richard B.

><(()”>
Check out latest underwater exploits :-

http://www.images-underwater.net/

and

http://www.images-underwater.net/blog1/

Tags: 50mm, f1.4, Niffty Fiffty, Sigma
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Things that go BUMP in the night

January 17th, 2010

As part of the on going shutterbug this months topic was “Things that go BUMP in the night”. My attempt for this month, loosely based on the famous scene in the Psycho movie.

100mm Macro, f2.8, 1/400 sec, ISO 100
Flash low left parallel with shower head, eTTL power.
Bit of a tweak on curves and grayscale conversion in Photoshop.

See below for more details on this one.

10mm, 1/15 sec, f6, ISO 100
One flash against back wall, red gel. One flash above camera no gel. eTTL balance 2:1on red flash.
Triggered with timer.
Simple PP, gray scale conversion with mask to allow red through.

100mm Macro, f5.6, 1/640sec, ISO-100
Simple PP, gray scale conversion with mask to allow red through.

Okay more detail as promised :-

First EXIF data :-
10mm, 1/3 sec, f5, ISO 100
One flash out of door camera left, snoot, 105mm zoom, red gel.
One flash above camera no gel, 24mm zoom.
Controlled in eTTL with STE-2 controller and balance 2:1 on red flash.
Triggered with cable release.
Simple PP, gray scale conversion with mask to allow red through.

This is the lay out, flash power was then balanced to control the ratio.

This is shot looking through the door, camera and flash in the shower cubicle.

This is the red flash, there is a foot long 3 inch neoprene tube on the flash head which turns it into a spot light, hence the small red not a mass scattering

Things I’d change :-
Use a model, much simpler and makes chimping the LCD easier.
Use a flat, ironed sheet not shower curtain. Give much better shadows.
Have a purpose built set with more room (if only!). Really struggled with lack of space, particularly with the one in the shower. The further the flash to object distance the better the shadows.

If anybody whats to know anything, leave a comment or drop me an email.

Cheers,
Richard B.

><(()">
Check out latest underwater exploits :-

http://www.images-underwater.net/

and

http://www.images-underwater.net/blog1/

Tags: Off Camera, Shutterbug, Things that go BUMP in the night
Posted in Shutterbug | No Comments »

Whales

January 4th, 2010

Still clearing some of the back catalogue. While these are not quite underwater but still marine shots. They are humpbacks off the coast of Sydey Australia in September.

and my favourite, a motor drive sequence

EXIF
Canon 350D
Canon 28-300 IS L at 250-300mm
Shutter Priority
1/2000 sec (Moving subjects and moving boat)
about f5.6
ev -1.33
ISO 200
Motor drive

Cheers,
Richard B.

><(()">
Check out latest underwater exploits :-

http://www.images-underwater.net/

and

http://www.images-underwater.net/blog1/

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Shuterbugs Dubai

January 4th, 2010

Trying to keep my creative juices going as well as continuing to hone my photo skills a group of freinds have been setting our selves mothly topics.
Here are some of the back catalogue.

SAND

MOVEMENT

LIGHT

Cheers,
Richard B.

><(()">
Check out latest underwater exploits :-

http://www.images-underwater.net/

and

http://www.images-underwater.net/blog1/

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Wild Oryx

January 4th, 2010

During a recent drive into the desert of Dubai we were lucky enough to see some wild Arabian Oryx.

EXIF
Canon 350D
Sigma 170-500mm at 500mm
1/2000 sec (lucky for lots of desert sun)
f5.6 wide open for this lens
ISO 200 to keep shutter speed high
No significant PP and no crops, hence 500mm.

And yes it is me in the last photo, they may have horns but not big teeth so get close.
It’s typical that when you get to see something like this you’ve lent your long lens out ! Easy I just stole it and the body it was attached to back.

Cheers,
Richard B.

Tags: Desert, Dubai, Oryx
Posted in Animals, Topside | No Comments »

Night time

January 3rd, 2010

As part of a photo project with freinds “Shutterbug Dubai” shot a few slow night shots.
Hope you like.


EXIF
Canon 350D (Santa PLEASE help !)
Sigma 10-20mm
Av Mode, f22 min, about 13 sec.
-1/3 EV
ISO 100
Normal WB


EXIF
Canon 350D (Santa PLEASE help !)
Canon 28-300 IS L
Av Mode, f22 min, about 8 sec.
-1/3 EV
ISO 100
Custom manual WB, shot the "white" off the track sides then tweaked in camera.