| Underwater Photo Contest Entry | |
|   Hi Georges !
thank for your latest submission to the UWP contest 
You've kindly requested a review of your photo.
How it works  : in the following 2-3 posts i will give you my impressions about technique, composition and subject. If ever needed, i will propose a suggestion how the picture might be improved.
Remember : we are volunteers and of course, a review contains always a subjective element you might not share with me  .
And here we go ...
| Danstrub
11192 point member
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| | Photo Critique
First impression The main topic, the puffer, is lost in middle of the photo
Technical ( score from 1-6, best is 6 ) Exposure : 2, Colours: 2, Sparpness: 4, DOF ( depht of field ) : 3, Contrast : 3
Suggestions : The main technical weakness in this picture is that you are too far from the fish. You use a compact camera, with eventually an internal falshgun. The flash is not strong enough to reproduce the correct colors if you are too far. Of course, a bit of the color can be rendered in the postproduction work with photoshop or similar programs, but it will not correct all of the missing light. So: go as close as possible . The picture has a little blue dominant color This can be corrected with an adequate WB. Try several settings, from automatic to manual, passing via the "underwater" WB. If you take the picture in RAW, you can as well work on the white balance, a bit at least, in the postproduction stage.
| Danstrub
11192 point member
|
| | Composition : You are too far from the pufferfish. He is lost in the middle of the sponges. This so-called negative space is not adequate to highlight the central subject. Then the fish is centered, which gives him the same level of interest as the background. Finally, the picture is taken from above.
Suggestions : Think about the picture you want to do and what should be "forground" (principal subject) and background (negative space - is intended to highlight the principal subject). Once you have your plan, consider the best way of achieving this. The pufferfish are usually not to shy and allow the UWP to approach quite near. Here you could have tried to approach the fish from the bottom, a little bit more from the front, taking the shot in a slight upward position. Your would have had a dark background as a negative space. Avoid also tho point the camera downwards, it crushes the picture. If you can not reach the fish without harming the environment, leave h...
| Danstrub
11192 point member
|
| | Subject : The pufferfish is not the most beautifully colored fish, but he's got a funny face
Suggestions : As is suggested prior, think about the subject and how you want to highlight it. A close shot from the face, the beak-shaped mouth, the eye would have had a bigger impact. But never chase the fish to take a picture from him when he is round as a balloon; it stresses the animal to death 
Epilogue : The start is some times frustrating, it's the case for all of us here whatever gear we use  But you are exactly at the point where improvements are fascinating and you will not be able to leave the UWP for a long while. Get inspired by the best in this art to develop your own artistic world. Shoot, shoot and shoot, use all kind of settings and don't let your camera keep any more secrets from you. And an external flashlight brings you further in big steps.
Cheers buddy,
Dan
--------Photo Critique completed----...
| Danstrub
11192 point member
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| | Great critique, Daniel ! Lots of good knowledge and useful advices in there 
| Rico Besserdich
19673 point member
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