First Place Wins Ocean Art Photography Contest 2019 by Nicholas More
In the crystal-clear waters of Raja Ampat, Indonesia, a stunning underwater photograph was captured that showcases the mesmerising schooling behaviour of Ribbon Sweetlips. Taken during a dive at Saundereck Jetty, the photograph titled "Blur of Sweetlips" was the culmination of a successful live-aboard trip that took place in November 2019.
To achieve this captivating image, the photographer employed a range of techniques to blur the background and isolate the school of Yellow Ribbon Sweetlips against a soft, dreamy backdrop.
Firstly, a shallow depth of field technique using a wide aperture was employed. With the Nikon D500 and a Tokina 10-17mm Fisheye Lens, the aperture was opened as wide as possible to reduce depth of field and create a narrow zone of focus. This technique, coupled with the use of a Zen Dome Port, Nauticam Housing, and Dual Inon Z330 Strobes, allowed the photographer to isolate the subject and naturally blur the background.
The photographer also increased the distance between the school of fish and the background, leveraging the water's natural diffusion for blur. Positioning the school close to the camera and maximising background distance helped to further enhance this effect.
In post-processing, the photograph was subtly adjusted to enhance the blur effect. Global adjustments including clarity, contrast, highlight adjustments, added vibrance, and a slight crop were applied to the image. The focused subject was selectively sharpened while leaving the background soft, creating a striking contrast between the school of fish and the blurred background.
When shooting in Raja Ampat, it's essential to consider the unique challenges posed by underwater environments. The photographer carefully balanced aperture and shutter speed to keep the subject sharp and the background blurred without introducing motion blur. The camera settings for the photograph were 1/8 sec, F16, ISO 200.
Additionally, the photographer used a neutral density (ND) filter to avoid overexposure when shooting wide-open apertures in the bright underwater conditions. Raja Ampat's clear waters helped achieve better distant blur, and the use of strobes or off-camera lights was carefully managed to avoid backscatter while lighting the subject.
In summary, capturing the classic schooling behaviour of Ribbon Sweetlips in Raja Ampat requires the use of a wide-aperture lens, shooting as close as possible to the school, maximising background distance, controlling exposure with ND filters if needed, and fine-tuning sharpness and colour in post-processing to highlight the subject against a blurred background. With the right techniques and a bit of luck, you too can create stunning underwater photographs that showcase the beauty of Raja Ampat's marine life.
- The stunning underwater photograph, titled "Blur of Sweetlips," was captured during a dive at Saundereck Jetty in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
- To blur the background and isolate the school of Yellow Ribbon Sweetlips, the photographer employed a shallow depth of field technique with a Nikon D500 and a Tokina 10-17mm Fisheye Lens.
- The photographer also increased the distance between the school of fish and the background, leveraging the water's natural diffusion for blur.
- In post-processing, the image was subtly adjusted to enhance the blur effect, with global adjustments and selective sharpening to create a striking contrast between the school of fish and the blurred background.
- When shooting in Raja Ampat, it's essential to balance aperture and shutter speed to keep the subject sharp and the background blurred, and to use a neutral density (ND) filter to avoid overexposure.
- With the right techniques, you too can create stunning underwater photographs that showcase the beauty of Raja Ampat's marine life and contribute to your home-and-garden or gardening lifestyle, capturing vibrant colors and fascinating critters among the coral reefs.
