Posted by Dennis (66.87.145.76) on February 14, 2004 at 08:47:40:
In Reply to: WIDE ANGLE STROBE USE posted by JEFF J on February 13, 2004 at 12:14:01:
: I WILL BE DIVING IN COZUMEL WITH A NEW 20MM LENSE ON MY NIKONOS V. I HAVE A NEW SB 105 W/ SB 103 DIFFUSSER. WILL ONE STROBE BE ENOUGH? CAN I SHOOT WITH-OUT A STROBE AND ACHIEVE GOOD RESULTS? I PLAN ON SHOOTING VELVIA 100F. ANY WIDE ANGLE ADVICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.TTL OR NOT? ETC
Jeff:
A single SB-105 Speedlight (without the diffuser) will definitely cover a Nikonos 20mm lens.
The beam from two strobes can be overlapped to give you more coverage than usual, but it's not necessary here. The real benefit of a second fill light would be more natural lighting and details in the shadow area on the right. This gives your image more color, detail, and depth.
Unless the sunlight is travelling through less than 10fsw, you must use a strobe to give you optimum color and depth-of-field (you want to be using the smallest aperture possible), at a maximum working distance of five feet. Otherwise, you can color correct an available light photo with a marine filter, but your exposures are going to be questionable without going really high with your ISO due to the low light levels.
As for tips, get as close as you possibly can to fill the frame with your subject, and shoot at an upward angle. TTL works well with the 20mm depending on the composition, but if you are having problems getting the desired exposure, shoot manual. And always bracket, bracket, bracket.
In a close-focus wide angle photo, you can use the camera set on 1/60 shutter speed to meter a relatively bright blue water background exposure for the proper f/stop. Using that aperture and shutter speed combination on the camera and TTL on the strobe, you will get TTL/sunlight balanced exposures. The foreground subject is TTL exposed and the background is an available light exposure stretching to the horizon. Lots of depth in those images.
And Fuji Velvia 100F is an awesome film for underwater photos, both macro and wide angle. We sell a 35mm 36 exp. roll for $7.95.
For further assistance please call us at 800-334-3549 x42 or 312-421-6000 x42.
Dennis
Helix UW Photo Dept