UWMP eNews€¦ · During my dives I always look around to find unexpected or hidden little...

UWMP eNews

· August 2012 Top 10 Photos From DSLR Camera and Compact Camera and CSC

· Spotlight UW Macro Photographers

· UWMP Survey Results... What Focus Light Do You Use?

· Macro Diving Trip - Critters in Sydney, Australia and Komodo, Indonesia

· Focus On Compact Cameras Part… 5

issue 8 - 2012

Editorial

03August 2012 Top 10 DSLR Camera Photos

25Spotlight UW Macro Photographers

38UWMP Survey Results...What Focus Light Do You Use?

Content

Cover photo by.... Pipat Kosumlaksamee Ken Thongpila

29Macro Diving Trip - Jetty Muck Diving in North Sydney, Australia

Issue 8 - 2012 Page 02 Copyright © facebook.uwmacrophotographers.com and www.uwmacrophotographers.com

14August 2012 Top 10 Compact Camera & CSC Photos

31Macro Diving Trip - A Cruise to Paradise in Komodo National Park, Indonesia

27Focus on Compact Cameras Part... 5

Dear Members,

What great news for me and our group... we have more than 3,000 members. Thank you everyone who added your friend and suggested our group to your friends.

It is getting harder and harder to select the top 10 photos each month for both categories especially DSLR category, as there are lots of great photos posted from both categories. I would like to congratulate all photographers who appear in this issue and thank you for supplying additional details.

The “Spotlight UW Macro Photographer” this month, features Raffaele Livornese who has been a great contributor to the group, many of his works are outstanding and some of them have been in previous eNews and Hall of Fame Photos.

Henry Jager continues writing the compact camera series, “Focus on Compact Cameras”, now part 5 and Composition part 2 (continued). In my opinion, Henry is one of the best underwater photographers in the world and we are so lucky to have him writing these series.

Macro Diving Trips this issue features 2 great macro destinations from Nicolas Terry, “Jetty Muck Diving in North Sydney, Australia” and Gianni Cicalese, “A Cruise to Paradise in Komodo National Park, Indonesia”. If you have some questions or want to know more details, you can ask Nicolas and Gianni direct.

This month’s survey was a very important question and we had a great response from our members. The question was “What Focus Light Do You Use?” Nowadays the focus light is part of our macro photography and lots of members wanted to know which ones our group members like to use. Chris Spence has provided useful results and done a terrific job with the article, summary and chart as usual. Please always don’t forget to vote or comment on the surveys, it will help other members from your experience and is always important for our group too.

I would like to thank Raffaele Livornese for a great portfolio profile and photos, Henry Jager for his latest article and commitment to help our newbies to improve their photos, Nicolas Terry and Gianni Cicalese for great macro diving holiday reports and great photos. Chris Spence for admin work and survey question and article even though you are very busy and you always have time for our group. Great work everyone, appreciate that :-)

AUGUST - Top 10 DSLR Photos(in no particular order)


Wowie Wong

Miguel Pereira

Iyad Suleyman

Fransisca Harlijanto

Shinji Kitagawa Claudia Peyer EunJae Im

Christian Vizl Pipat Kosumlaksamee Tony Cherbas


Miguel Pereira (Portugal)

Title : Night Hunting

Critters name : Squid (Loligo subulata)

Location taken : Funchal, Portugal

Camera and Lens : Nikon D7000 and Nikon AF Micro Nikkor 60mm

Housing and Strobes : Nauticam and Ikelite DS161

Additional equipment add on: Focus Light Sola 600

Camera Setting : F14, 1/320 sec, ISO 100

Additional information or tips about how to get this photo :

I have always considered squids a very elusive critter. After a series of night dives at a place called Reis Magos, I found that if you wait a bit near some shoals of bogues, squid appear rapidly coming of darkness to hunt, attracted by the dive lights. After they catch some bogues, they seem to become mesmerised by the lights and stay really close to us. At this point I turn my light off and leave them room to return to the open sea, having only to focus on a single individual and go after it with the camera ready with the correct settings.

Copyright © facebook.uwmacrophotographers.com and www.uwmacrophotographers.com Issue 8 - 2012

Iyad Suleyman (Ukraine)

Title : Marble Shrimp

Critters name : Common marble shrimp (Saron marmoratus sp.2)

Location taken : Anilao, Batangas City, Philippines

Personal Website : www.iyadphotography.com

Camera and Lens : Canon 60D and Canon 60mm Macro

Housing and Strobes : Nauticam and 2 x Ikelite DS161

Dioptre : 2 x INON UCL165

Additional equipment add on : Focus Light Sola 1200



Most Saron Shrimps are very shy and usually retreat from direct white light, so the best thing to do is to use red focus light for shooting them.

As red light does not to much disturb these creatures and such wise we are able to get much closer and to spend more time to frame and focus correctly.

But anyway taking good pictures of these species requires from you patience, concentration, good mood and little luck!


Fransisca Harlijanto (Indonesia)

Title : Big Yawn?

Critters name : Yellow Goby (Gobiodon okinawae)

Location taken : Lembeh Strait, Indonesia


Housing and Strobes : Ikelite and INON Z220

Dioptre : SubSee +10



Before the dive, I would set my camera to a manual setting of f16, 1/100s and ISO 100. Then I would adjust exposure accordingly. I normally use 2 strobes set on the weakest power and of course adjust the power accordingly.

I came back to this particular site twice because I didn't get the yawning photo from the first dive. I then waited 30 minutes for it to yawn. This particular goby yawned quite a bit. Patience is a must. I find that being over weight is better to be more stable while photographing macro.


Shinji Kitagawa (Japan)

Title : Come on!

Critters name : Zebra lionfish (Dendrochirus zebra)!

Location taken : Kashiwajima, Japan

Personal Website : www.kitachan.net

Camera and Lens : Nikon D90 and Nikon VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm

Housing and Strobes : Anthis Nexus and 2 x INON D-2000



When I took this pic, I shut off my focus light because many fishes despise it. And I use the back kick (fin kick technique) to keep the focusing length. I don't use any special technique. Only I released the shutter may times avoiding rocks, coral and any other objects to take a black background photo.


Claudia Peyer (Switzerland)

Title : Just Guess

Critters name : Coral Oyster

Location taken : Gangga Island, Northsulawesi, Indonesia

Personal Website : www.fotomeer.ch and www.reefart.com

Camera and Lens : Olympus E3 and Zuiko 50 mm Macro

Housing and Strobes : Nexus Atena and 2 x INON Z220

Dioptre : INON UCL 167, 1:2

Additional equipment add on: Focus Light Sola 500



During my dives I always look around to find unexpected or hidden little treasures in the reef.

In a night dive I found this coral oyster. Thanks carefully approach she stayed open and showed all her colours. It took some patience to take a few close-up shots (about 2 cm distance). This picture is in reality about 3 cm tall, the whole clam about 5 cm.

To make a picture like this, it is important that light does not directly shine to the object, otherwise the oyster would close immediately.


EunJae Im (Republic of Korea)

Title : Whip Coral Goby

Critters name : Whip Coral Goby (Bryaninops yongei)

Location taken : Dauin, Negros Oriental, Philippines

Personal Website : http://ejlabs.net

Camera and Lens : Canon 5D Mark III and Canon 100mm L (IS) Macro

Housing and Strobes : Nauticam and INON Z240 (with 4600k Warming filter)

Dioptre : SubSee +5



A lot of people thinking "blue water background" is only for wide angle photo but I like to add it to macro shot when it's possible.

Slow shutter and wide open aperture can be challengeable for macro shooting but it will make your image look different from others.

Additional info about warming filter on strobe: I use 4600k warming filter on my INON Z240 for warming the colour temp of strobe.

Simply said, it's all about getting richer and nicer blue background.

Issue 8 - 2012 Copyright © facebook.uwmacrophotographers.com and www.uwmacrophotographers.com

Christian Vizl (México)

Title : The battle of the mollies

Critters name : Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna)

Location taken : Quintana Roo, México

Personal Website : www.christianvizl.com

Camera and Lens : Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 100mm macro

Housing and Strobes : Aquatica and INON Z220



“I have been diving in the magnificent Mexican Cenotes since 1994, and I have always been amazed by its beauty. Due to the greatness of their stalactites and stalagmites, crystal clear waters and incredible rock formations, its easy to not notice the abundance of beauty in their details, like the hundreds of little fishes. So this time, my goal was to capture a few of beautiful fishes that inhabits them. For like the first hour, I tried to approach this incredible males, but they where shy and backed off. I was almost at the point of giving up on them, until suddenly I saw a couple of them fighting! So I started to approach them only to realise that when they are engaged in their battle, not only they open their fins to the max, but they don’t care anymore about their surroundings!! So now I could approach them enough to capture them with my macro lens!! The lesson: knowing the behaviour of your subject is the key to success!!


Pipat Kosumlaksamee (Thailand)

Title : Stand Alone

Critters name : Banded Egg Cowry (Diminovula bimaculata)!


Personal Website : facebook.com/Fatfish.pipatcat

Camera and Lens : Nikon D2X and Nikon 105mm Macro

Housing and Strobes : Nexus and 2 x INON Z220

Dioptre : Nikon close up 5T

Additional equipment add on : Kenko AF 2X Teleplus Pro 300



I found this beautiful cowry when on a night dive at a dive site named Nudi falls at Lembeh Strait. This cowry is walking to the top of soft coral. I was just waiting for the nice composition to see the eyes and the head and also aware of not to touch the soft coral or cowry. Because I just worry about the polyps, if the polyps closed it does not look nice.


Tony Cherbas (USA)

Title : The Green Ghost with Orange Horns

Critters name : Nudibranch (Nembrotha kubaryana)!



Housing and Strobes : Sea&Sea and INON Z240

Additional equipment add on : Scubacam Fiber Optic Snoot



This shot was made possible by the use of a fiber optic snoot attached to the end of my INON Z240 strobe. I have tried using the traditional snoot tube but I find it much too cumbersome, with a messy light spread due to the wide angle design of my strobes. I now only consider it useful for larger subjects or wide angle shots. I feel the fiber optic snoot is MUCH easier to position strobe light when shooting macro subjects without the use of a separate tripod and allows for more creative lighting possibilities other than the traditional spotlight effect.

My technique for getting this shot was simple enough. I curved the fiber optic arms inward facing each other in front of the subject with the idea of separating the subject from a distracting background. I waited until the Nudibranch reared up at the edge of the coral that it was crawling along and took shots in the brief moment when it turned towards the camera. I was pleased to discover that the angle of the snoot and light coverage was just the right amount to sever the subject from the edges of the frame.


Wowie Wong (Philippines)

Title : You can't see me!

Critters name : Coconut Octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus)


Camera and Lens : Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 100mm Macro

Housing and Strobes : Sea&Sea and Sea&Sea YS-110a



Secret Bay is a famous dive site in Anilao, Batangas City, Philippines best known for muck diving. While we were hovering around 20 feet of depth, I noticed a huge pair of eyes peeping from a shell. Upon noticing it, it was a smart coconut octopus hiding in a shell for camouflage and protection. It was a great display of such intelligent behaviour before my eyes. I am not a fan of sand among photos so I had to shoot at a very low angle. When you need to get low, remember to be very mindful of the area where your body will be positioned, in case there are other small critters around. Please be reminded to be extra careful while setting up so that silting, that may eventually lead to backscatter, will highly be prevented.

AUGUST - Top 10 Compact Camera and Compact System Cameras (CSC) Photos

(in no particular order)


Johnny Chiu

Brian Mayes Frederic Juneau

Jesse Chao

James Mamoto Marco Chang

Anne K. Adijuwono Toni Chua Jeff Jioe Dennis Corpuz


Johnny Chiu (Taiwan)

Title : Clarity Eyes

Critters name : Shrimp

Location taken : Northeast Coast, Taiwan

Personal Website : facebook.com/JOHNNY326

Camera and Lens : Panasonic GF1 and Leica DG 45mm marco

Housing and Strobes : 10BAR and INON Z240

Dioptre : Subsee +10



This photo was taken during a night dive, where I saw the shrimp resting on the sand. After slowing down my breath, I approached it gently and placing my strobe just above my camera to make a front light. I turned on the focus light of Z-240, which is capable of emitting red light by using red filter. I started shooting in just around 10cm in front of the shrimp. After taking several photos, she felt threatened and suddenly hid herself into the sand. Luckily, I got this one in my memory card!


Brian Mayes (United Kingdom)

Title : Pretty in Pink

Critters name : Rock Shrimp (Urocaridella sp.)

Location taken : Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Malaysia

Personal Website : flickr.com/people/brianmayes

Camera and Housing : Canon G9 and Canon WP-DC21

Strobes and Dioptre : Internal Flash and 2 x INON UCL165 (+6 x 2 Stacks = +12 Dioptre)



I noticed this small rock shrimp inside a pink barrel sponge and thought that the sponge would make a good background to isolate the shrimp. These shrimp usually hang around in groups and act as cleaners for fish. The eyes are quite distinctive and have a colour that complements the pink background, so it was obvious that this is where I should concentrate the area of focus. I thought that the usual composition rule of thirds was not as important as getting as much detail as possible in a full frame shot, so I decided to centre the focus and framing on the right eye in the photo. Leaning the camera slightly to give the shrimp an angle helped get the claws in the frame and avoid it looking too symmetrical.


Frederic Juneau (Canada)

Title : Trying out the new toys

Critters name : Nudibranch (Glossodoris cincta)

Location taken : Koh Racha Yai (near Phuket), Thailand

Personal Website : www.fjphotovideo.com

Camera and Housing : Canon S100 and Fix S100

Strobes and Dioptre : 2 INON Z240 and INON UCL165 +6 plus Subsee +10 (stacked)



This photo was taken on my first day out with my new toys: New camera & housing, second strobe, Subsee diopter, and other things...

I was on a mission to do some trials with various diopter stacking options on the first day, very specifically stacking the INON +6 and the Subsee +10. I had some experience with stacking two INON +6, but wanted to see the increase in macro capabilities this setup would give me (in addition to the increased zoom capability of the camera itself).

While gaining in magnification, my first impressions using the +6 +10 setup was similar to the +6 +6 in the difficulty level it presents. In both cases, very shallow DOF and more challenging to focus and steady for the shot. This is the reason why I usually look for a subject that allows for a more stable position to take the shot. In this case, I was on the sandy bottom with the Nudibranch on a small "mount", giving me great access.

With diopters, I always use f/8 (min aperture on Canon S95 and S100) because of the very shallow DOF it creates. In this case, 1/250 sec allowed for this soft green to be revealed, which I find quite pleasing. The same shot taken at 1/500 has a black background. For the first day out with the new setup, I was happy with the results.


Jesse Chao (Taiwan)

Title : Frogfish Night Fishing

Critters name : Frogfish (Antennarius sp.)

Location taken : Longdong 4, Northeast Coast, Taiwan


Strobes and Dioptre : INON Z240 and INON UCL-165



Frogfish are common all over the world but this photo I want to express her strange behaviour at night, waving her lure fishing rod trapping predators but his bright red coat cruentum area look outside was funny so the lighting deliberately left lower left cruentum in stark contrast with the dark therefore her lure fishing rod seem so clearly in the dark!


James Mamoto (Indonesia)

Title : Mandarin Fish

Critters name : Mandarin Fish (Synchiropus splendidus)

Location taken : Manado, Indonesia

Personal Website : www.jamesmamoto.com


Strobes : Sea & Sea YS 90 Dx

Additional equipment add on : i-Torch



Mandarin Fish, to see the fish are usually at my place, we did a dive in when the sun will set, it would be better if already in place earlier dives, the better we are waiting mandarin fish out of the mandarin fish are waiting for us to come.

My tips for taking photos of Mandarin Fish, when you see mandarin fish, do not jump to snap, notice how fish swim, they will usually swim here and there to deceive, but usually they back to the same spot for mating.

For lighting, mandarin fish are not too happy with the light, but when we are going to take a picture, we need light to camera, during mating mandarin fish, try to give the light of the bottom, when you give out light from the bottom, you will have time to take photos, because mandarin fish will not immediately run down, because you give the light from below.


Marco Chang (Taiwan)

Title : Emperor

Critters name : Emperor Shrimp (Periclimenes imperator)

Location taken : Northeast Coast, Taiwan

Personal Website : flickr.com/photos/maxmacro

Camera and Housing : Canon G12 and Fix G12

Strobes and Dioptre : 2 x INON Z240 and Subsee +10



Must first have to find the big emperor shrimp, this is not an easy to find and slow to approach it. I hit the flashing lights from the top down, patiently waiting for it to move to the position and a little lucky.


Anne K. Adijuwono (Indonesia)

Title : Flat worm

Critters name : Flat worm


Camera and Lens : Sony Nex5n and Sony Emount 30mm

Housing and Strobes : Meike nex 5 and Internal Flash

Additional equipment add on : Focus Light Sola 1200



I was in an underwater photo competition in Lembeh. It's my very first time with a SLR camera. Well, it's a mirror less, not a real SLR, but still an advance system rather than my old compact camera.

Unfortunately I bought the wrong casing. It was for Nex5, not Nex5n. So some buttons was on the wrong place. And, nothing worked under 5m except the shutter. So, I have to set my camera before going deeper.

The judges have chosen a challenging theme: colourful swimmer. So, no nudibranchs or crabs, of course no flat worm. But this fellow came towards me, made the gesture like walking, stopping with heads up to me, then walking again until he reached me. I have 2 other shots before it 'posed' like this for a while. Believe me, I gave it an OK sign, it moved its 'head' forward, as if it wanted to see something so I showed it the photo then it moved away. So funny moment. I'm glad that I got this photo.


Toni Chua (Indonesia)

Title : Be careful with me !

Critters name : Shrimp

Location taken : Thousand Island, Jakarta, Indonesia

Camera and Housing : Canon G12 and Canon WPDC-34

Additional equipment add on : UK C8 eLED and UK Mini Q40

Camera Setting : F3.5, 1/60 sec, ISO 125


I was very lucky to capture this shot in my third chance. I waited for about 5 minutes with my camera behind the objects, took several frames and hope the shrimp will come to face my camera. It's important that photographer doesn't move and place camera with half pressed button while it comes. Light positioned to the side of object from bottom to upward and focusing in head area.

A large aperture (f3.5) is used to ensure the object perfectly in focus and that other elements in the shot are not distracting. Play with lighting and lower camera placement than object are also play a role to get a closer focus of object with a blurry background. It's hard to get a photo when you actively try to face directly with object. The best choice is only need a bit of patience to observe and learn how the object will move. Special thanks to Archimedes Daely who has a lot of patience to wait for me to take this shot.


Jeff Jioe (Hong Kong)

Title : The Golden Little Cheerleader

Critters name : Boxer Crab (Lybia tesselata)


Camera and Housing : Canon S100 and Canon WP-DC43

Strobes and Dioptre : 2 x INON Z240 and INON UCL-165 +6



Boxer crabs are found under the rocks in the daytime but can be chanced seeing them on stony corals and sponges in the night when they are out to search for food.

The photo was taken after a week of stay at Lembeh, and so the dive guide knew well what I was looking for. We met this beauty after patiently checking out the rocks one by for more than 30 minutes. The golden flowery pincers are not only lovely, and also unusual.

Adjust the camera settings and position the strobes before approaching the objects are my usual practice for taking photos underwater. A clean or contrasted background is also helpful in achieving a good photo given that I am still yet-to-be savvy in the underwater photography.


Dennis Corpuz (Philippines)

Title : Wild - Saron

Critters name : Olivia shrimp aka Marble shrimp (Saron marmoratus sp.2)


Personal Website : www.anilaocritter.com


Strobes : Internal Flash

Additional equipment add on : Aunoc LED Torch



In most commonplaces, the location was narrow and dark. A focus light is very helpful, it must be a soft light or a red filter to get the best result. I was so lucky I guess when I made my camera close to the target and the shrimp itself was almost at the edge of the hole where it lives very cooperating may be. I wasn't using a soft red light that time but I made my torch minimised the light while securing not to hit direct light to the subject and just a glow instead otherwise it will run and hide. Finally, I got the best opportunity and it helps my camera move so efficient being no frame and external strobe attached as the shrimp goes inside the hole. I zoomed about 95% like in most common compact camera with close-up lens until I reached good focus and gotten the photo.

Spotlight UW Macro Photographer

-: Equipment for Macro photograph :-

Camera : Nikon D90Lens : Nikkor VR 105mm and 60mm Micro Housing : Hugyfot

Strobe : 2 x INON Z240 Type IV

Dioptre : Subsee +10 and INON UCL-165

Focus Light : INON Le 550 w

Favourite macro diving trip (Holiday):Moalboal, PhillippinesFavourite macro subjects: Nudibranchs and Blennys


Raffaele Livornese(Italy)

www.flickr.com/photos/54535734@N04

I was born in Germany in 1970 and lived there for 12 years, then I came back with my parents in Italy where I still live.

I've always loved photography, as a kid I was taking photos at weddings of relatives with the simple pocket and then with my brother's Olympus OM10 reflex, with excellent results and joy of the celebrated. I have always taken pictures for private use, never for work (my job has nothing to do with photography and even with diving), so I've never studied the photographic techniques, but I always photographed following my instinct.

Only 4 years ago I started diving, first only in the summer holidays, then every week. I have found it necessary to bring to the surface the beauty I met in the depths. At first I used a simple point and shoot, but the results did not satisfy me, so I decided to buy an underwater housing for my Nikon D90, and here I am.

Raffaele’s Portfolio


Anthia anthiasF/14, 1/250sec. ISO 100

Bornella anguillaF/25, 1/250sec. ISO 200

Frog fishF/18, 1/250sec. ISO 100

Parabelnnius pilicornisF/18 1/250 sec. ISO 100

Squids : F/14 1/125 sec. ISO 200 Nikkor 105 mm Crinoid crab : F/25, 1/250sec. ISO 125 Cratena peregrinae : F/20 1/250 sec. ISO 100

FOCUS ON COMPACT CAMERAS Part... 5

by#Henry##Jagerwww.conartix-photo.ch

Copyright © facebook.uwmacrophotographers.com and www.uwmacrophotographers.com

Composition Part II

In the last Issue of eNews, we learned about the elements of composition and we had a more detailed look at the "Rule of Thirds", approaching the subject to get dramatic macro shots. Today we look at other “elements on the list”.

Issue 8 - 2012

Separate subject from background (black background, depth of field)

Usually, people don't have much time to look at a picture. Especially if it comes to advertising or picture galleries with a lot of entries. And, I assume, for you in a very important case: first round judging of a contest. The judges get hundreds or thousands of entries and they often decide within a second if a picture passes to the next level. What makes them decide positively? A clear message (well defined subject) in an outstanding composed, nicely coloured picture. The more dramatic in behaviour or shooting angle, the better your chance to proceed. But how to make a subject visible on the first sight?

Good methods are: shoot against blue water, bokeh shots, black backgrounds, colour difference, snooting etc. are possibilities to achieve this goal. Let's talk about black backgrounds. They are loved by spectators as it makes colours vivid and contrast higher compared with a bright background. They are esteemed as professional photo technique, at least to laymen. But making black background is very simple. Yes, it's one of the simplest techniques and you don't need photoshop to create it! We learn it now, you only need to know how to work manually (see chapter 2 and 3).

© Henry Jager

© Henry Jager

Harlequin Ghost pipefish: A nice diagonal shot, the eyes within the rule of thirds. But a very distracting background with many too sharp lines. As subject and background are very close (less than the bobtail squid's body width, shot with the same f-stop), the aperture should be much lower then used

F/8. 1/250s, ISO 200

Bobtail Squid: A crisp sharp subject is well separated from the bokeh background. The difference in sharpness helps also to differ the sand, the bobtail squid uses to cover itself from the same sand in the background

F8, 1/250s, ISO100


One of several methods, which shows the principle of the technique best, is this: Set your shutter speed to the max speed of flash synchronisation (to avoid as much ambient light as possible). Without flashing, close aperture just to the level to get a black picture. Or close it even more, if you need a larger depth of field. Turn on your flash at the power (manually set) you just need to light the subject, but nothing in the background. Done. It helps, if there is some distance between subject and background or better you shoot against free water. Made it like this, there is no need to mask the subject in photoshop and darken the background separately or burn the background, which looks in most cases not very professional.

Black backgrounds have a big disadvantage. You loose the natural light and most of the natural habitat. More artfully you work with the "depth of field" as separation method and with ambient l ight inc luded in to the picture. A crisp sharp subject in front of a nice bokeh background is a good way to get eye catchers. To get a small depth of field, open the aperture (lower numbers). In macro photography often used closeup lenses also helps to achieve a nice bokeh even with a slightly higher f-stop. Take care of sharp eyes or rhinophores.

© Henry Jager© Henry Jager

Pipefish Portrait: The use of a very low f-stop (f/5,0) combined with a closeup lens makes the separation of only the eyes against a bokeh fore- and background possible

F5.0, 1/250s, ISO 100.

Chromodoris collingwoodi: No ambient light and a manually to the exact power set flash, which lights up only the nudibranch and a bit of the sandy bottom, gives those black background pictures.

F7.1, 1/250s, ISO 200


Jetty Muck Diving in North Sydney, Australia

by Nicolas Terry

Issue 8 - 2012

For many underwater photographers, muck diving is their favourite activity. On muck dives, underwater photographers find rare nudibranchs, juvenile fish, frogfish, and strange critters that are found no where else. They then spend a long time photographing them. For some people, a muck dive is their favourite place to practice underwater photography

Sydney’s North Shore Dive sites offer a great diving diversity, one such Macro dive site I really enjoy is Clifton Gardens (Chowder Bay), Mosman. It takes about 30-40 minutes from Sydney CBD. This site is located in the heart of this affluent area of Sydney. The dive site is mostly sand, with small scattered patches of sea grass and the odd motorcycle.

Diving Details:

There are a number of ways to dive Clifton Gardens. The main dive starts from the jetty and bathing enclosure. This dive site comes alive once night has fallen. I always hear divers ask about visibility, coming from the UK and diving over there for a number of years, I can say any visibility is good. With that said, the visibility at Clifton Gardens is never really more than fair. At night it all changes. You will see all manner of critters and who needs great visibility when you need to be close to your subjects.

After gearing up in the car park it is a short easy flat walk across the grassed area and down to the jetty. At the end of the jetty you will find a set of large wooden steps leading to the water, care must be taken on the last few steps as these are under the water at high tide and can be slippery. Then it’s just a giant stride and you are in the water.

The dive site is suitable for all divers and because of the depth around 9m the best time of day to dive this site is on high tide, but it can also be dived at low tide but the visibility drops.

Once in the water, sink to the bottom, this will then be the max depth of the dive. After descending and looking at the colours of the marine life on the jetty supports, you will soon reach the sandy seabed. From here follow the supports to the end of the jetty and then start working your way back. This will be the deepest part of the dive, at low tide the max depth can be as little as 2m, so make sure you are properly weighted so not to disturb the seabed, good finning technique is called for, in most cases frog kicking.Pyjama Squid - 1/80 F18 ISO 800


Macro Marine Life Highlights:

The marine life at this site is incredibly diverse and includes Anglerfish, Frogfish, Pipefish, Seahorses, Cuttlefish, Pyjama Squid, Lined-Dumpling Squid, Prickly and Pygmy Leatherjacket, Nudibranch, Mosaic Moray, Decorated Crabs and Octopus as well as the usual array of temperate fish life.

What you LIKED about this trip...

I feel that this dive site is under rated, for the photographer it is one of the best Macro Dive Sites Sydney’s North Shore has to offer. Easy to find, park (if driving) and so close to a dive store (Plunge Diving) within easy walk.

What you DID NOT LIKE about this trip...

Depending on the time of day, day of the week you dive, the road leading to Clifton Gardens can be busy (Military Rd). Also once at the dive site keep and eye out for discarded fishing line and hooks.

Baby squid - 1/50sec F18 ISO 800 Hermit crab - 1/125sec F22 ISO 600 Cuttlefish - 1/80sec F18 ISO 800

Dumpling Squid - 1/80sec F18 ISO 640

Sabre Tooth Blenny - 1/80sec F18 ISO 600Octopus - 1/125sec F18 ISO 400

Blenny - 1/80sec F18 ISO 640

Hotel Rating: Varied from 0-5 StarsDive Operator Rating: 4 (Good)Dive Guide Rating: Easy dive with buddyMacro Diving Activity Rating: 5 (Excellent)Marine Life Rating: 5 (Excellent)Visibility: 3-7 Metres

Overall Rating: 4 (Good)

Hotel Name: variety of accommodation options to suit any taste and budget - www.wotif.com

Dive Operator Name: Plunge Diving - www.plungediving.com.auDive 2000 - www.dive2000.com.au


A Cruise to Paradise in KomodoNational Park, Indonesia

by Gianni Cicalesewww:giannicicalese.it

Issue 8 - 2012

Last year in September, after a tour of the island of Bali with a flight from Bali to Bima we embarked on a wonderful 10-day cruise aboard to SMY Ondina Pinnisi in the Park of Komodo.

Almost uninhabited archipelago of micro islands coloured yellow-brown, in the blue of the sky and the sea, an incredible variety of different scenarios, strong currents and incontaminate coral reefs with rich biodiversity, this is the park of Komodo.

The waters of Komodo have two very distinct physical environments, The reefs in the northern area of the park are renowned for warm (27-30 º C) clear waters with many coral-rich reefs and wide variety of tropical fish. At some dive sites, the sheer number of fish has to be seen to be believed!

The southern section of the park has much cooler waters (up to 12ºC cooler) caused by oceanic upwellings from the deep Java Trench just south o f Indones ia . Here the underwater seascape is stark cliffs and boulders adorned with sea fans, soft corals, c r i n o i d s a n d s p o n g e s surrounded by schooling fish and some of the most bizarre critters you are ever likely to see.

I remember solitary night dive, rich muck dive, diving and wide angle with current never heard so impetuous.

How to get there:

From Bali to Bima on board domestic flights operated by Lion Air and Merpati.

Diving Details:

For macro advice sites Bethlem and Unused Suspect in Bima, Lawabay and Flamengo show in Gili Lawalaut, Wainilu to Rinja, cannibal World Rock and Torpedo Bay in Nusa Kode, and the contrast of the barrier with sand Black in Volcano.

Macro Marine Life Highlights:

Coleman & Harlequin shrimp, many frogfish, Ghost pipefish, many species of Nudibranch, Spider Crabs, Anemone's shrimp, more species of Cuttlefish, and much more.

Pigmy SeaHorseF20, 1/200sec, ISO 100

Coleman Shrimp – F18, 1/200sec, ISO 100


Liveaboard Rating: 5 (Excellent)Dive Operator Rating: 5 (Excellent)Dive Guide Rating: 4 (Good)Macro Diving Activity Rating: 4 (Good)Marine Life Rating: 5 (Excellent)Visibility: 8-17 Metres

Overall Rating: 5 (Excellent)

Liveaboard and Dive Operator Name :

SMY Ondina Pinnisi

www.facebook.com/pages/SMY-Ondina-Dive-Indonesia/196221535156

Issue 8 - 2012

Chromodoris leopardus – F16, 1/160sec, ISO 100

Harlequin Shrimp – F16, 1/160sec, ISO 100

Phyllodesmium Briareum – F18, 1/200sec, ISO 100

Phidiana indica – F22, 1/200sec, ISO 100Cuttlefish – F18, 1/200sec, ISO 100

Randall's frogfish – F18, 1/200sec, ISO 100

Anemone Shrimp – F18, 1/200sec, ISO 100

Article and graphic charts by Chris Spence


UWMP Survey Results What Focus Light Do You Use?

In nearly every Underwater Photographers’ kit bag or attached to their Housing you will find a Focus Light. Very handy during a night dive and also as alternative light source to your flash guns, and can be used to deliver dramatic different effects in Macro Photography. Most lights on the market also provide a Red Light source so as not to scare shy animals at night.

So we wanted to know... What Focus Light do you use?

There was a fantastic response to this survey. Thank you to those who took the time to record their vote.

The Sola 500/600/800 series of Focus Lights from Light and Motion are the clear Focus Light of choice with 44% votes, followed by the INON LE250/LE550 with 14%, closely followed by the I-Torch Pro Mini range of lights with 13%.


Light and Motion Sola 500/600/800 Specifications:

• Built-in flood and red beams

• Factory sealed housings with external charging

• Fast charge times

• Run times from 70 minutes

• Lumen/Beam 670 lumen flood 220 lumen red

• Weight 283 grams

• Beam angle 60° Flood

• Run time 80 min @ 671 lumen/160 min @ 335 lumen/320 min @ 160 lumen/200 min @ RED 200 lumen (600/800 only)

• Charge time 150 min

INON LE250/550 Specifications:

• LED Components High Intensity Power LED

• 250 Lumen

• Beam Angle 20° without filter, 40° with W40 Filter, 50° with W50 Filter.

• Run time between 135 to 205 minutes depending on Battery Type

• Depth rating 120m

• LED Life approx. 10,000 hours

• Weight 208.5 grams, approx. 120 grams underwater.

• Corrosion resistant Aluminium

Thank your very much for your kind support for this group and I hope you like this eNews and are enjoying learning with us.

For the next few issues we are looking for...

Macro diving trip article or report Tips and Tricks for UW Macro Photography

Any topic to help our members take better photos

If you have any comments or feedback or want to be part of our eNews, please feel free to email me at

[email protected]

PLEASE DO NOT USE THE PHOTOS AND DETAILS INAPPROPRIATELY

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