Mangrove Kayaking Photo

Photographer’s Note

Thought I'd try posting something a bit more unusual. This is actually a technically difficult shot to take for the following reasons:

(1) In order to achieve the split effect it is necessary to attach a large dome port to the underwater housing. Otherwise the water simply washes over the lens and it is difficult to place the horizon.

(2) Due to the optical effects of a dome port on an underwater housing, the focal point for the same distance is different above water to that below water. Hence trying to get both parts of the photograph in focus is extremely difficult. In this instance I have used a fisheye lens which has a massive amount of depth of field. This helps achieve focus in both parts. Divers using lenses with less depth of field use a split diopter on the lens to change the focal point below water (though this takes careful placing to put it on the water interface.

(3) because light is absorbed by water, the photo needs more exposure underwater than the above water part. In this case I've got around the problem by photographing in very shallow water and using an underwater flash to give a bit more exposure to the starfish.

I'm reasonably happy with the result. The photo was taken in the mangroves of North Sound in the Cayman Islands.

mbasil, tatadalou, padeg, rewshearer, leiju, broglia, iGirl has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mbasil (2117) 2006-08-08 15:43

Pretty good Andrew. I would have never known about the in and out of the water at the same time stuff. You did a great job carrying it out. Congrats. I played a bit with color and rotation.
Mike

[workshop] [compare] +

tatadalou (818) 2006-08-08 15:59

Hi Andrew,
Thanks for this very unusual shot! Your note is very interesting. The fisheye lens gives a surprending view. I like the subject of your picture that oppones sportive woman and a calm sea star: two ways of enjoying mangrove! I am sure such a photo needs much time to take it and I congratulate you for the efforts you've done to propose us a so original shot.
Just a point: I think colours and contrast might be improved a little with a PP, with difficulty but certainly possible for pros of PP!!! The workshop of Mike shows that it is possible, with a funny frame given by rotation, well done Mike!
Thanks for sharing
Delphine

Nikofan (1086) 2006-08-08 17:37

A quite strange picture but technically well managed!
Not easy to do, congratulations!

Bernard

rewshearer (682) 2006-08-08 17:52

Yeah - you should be happy with the result! It's spectacular. The focus is plenty good enough for me, the composition is excellent and the metering just fine.
Congratulations!
Rew

Tezic (16927) 2006-08-09 4:25

technically, the result is very good.. Also the composition perfect.. nice job..
rgds-coskun

leiju (1679) 2006-10-20 8:38

Excellent capture from a technical point of view as well as simply interesting topic/composition and the lot. I am impressed by the quality of the underwater part and really enjoy the above water composition :)
I like the fact that it is tilted like this as it adds the element of non-horizontal existence just as it is when in or under water. I have to say though that the colours are not very interesting and beyond that that they are quite bland compared to what I think they might look like in reality. It could be a monitor thing, but then again, on my screen your sky looks quite a bit more brown than any sky I've ever encountered :D
I'll attempt a little WS but don't know what will come out of it :)
In any case, TFS this quite unique and brilliant shot!
Julia

[workshop] [compare]

andeweg (139) 2006-10-20 8:57

I think the result is pretty good. I have tried this in a swimmin pool with a default underwater cam, but no result. It was very difficult indeed.
Congratulations on your research to make it possible to photograph this way!

Kind regard,
Hans

iGirl (1223) 2006-10-20 9:06

Hi Andrew, great job on this shot, you have done well with a very difficult photography situation. It seems that you thought ahead (or maybe experimented) about all the problems unique to this particular situation, and you came up with good solutions. Other than needing a little color correction, your results are excellent! I love how you caught bothe the rafter and the starfish. To me the surface of the water is the most interesting part. Looking closely, I feel like I am looking down at the starfish, which is refracted (I think that's the right word) through the water to the surface. At least I'm assuming that's what that is. :)

Thanks for sharing!

Erin

Albrecht (10950) 2006-12-07 14:12

Hi Andrew
What a strange POV and compo;I like the picture and the way you held your camera even though the light and exposure is not great. Original it is...
thanks for sharing
~Albrecht~