We did shoot reflections, we had fun with bottles and liquid surfaces... This time we're going to shoot a (completely) submerged subject, incorporating both the object and the surrounding liquid into a single frame.
Use of a polarizer to kill the reflections is recommended. As always, try not only to be theme-compliant, but actually deliver a message, i.e. provide some good quality image.

Fresh captures only. Moderate post-processing. Shot should be taken from above, i.e. through the liquid surface...

Let's get submerged!

Originally Posted by Nikolai We did shoot reflections, we had fun with bottles and liquid surfaces... This time we're going to shoot a (completely) submerged subject, incorporating both the object and the surrounding liquid into a single frame. Use of a polarizer to kill the reflections is recommended. As always, try not only to be theme-compliant, but actually deliver a message, i.e. provide some good quality image. Fresh captures only. Moderate post-processing. Let's get submerged!

Ahhh..you are definately challenging us aren't you! Putting my thinking cap back on...

"Under the Sea"



By the way...pineapples float.

Originally Posted by spb13 "Under the Sea" By the way...pineapples float.

Sean, thank you!
Actually, I must apologize , I wasn't clear: the shot must be taken from ABOVE, through the liquid surface
I will modify the lead post.

Originally Posted by Nikolai Sean, thank you! Actually, I must apologize , I wasn't clear: the shot must be taken from ABOVE, through the liquid surface I will modify the lead post.

Well damn. That actually brings up a question then. In my test shots I didn't always "see" the water. I am guessing that you want it to be obvious that we are shooting through water?

Originally Posted by spb13 Well damn. That actually brings up a question then. In my test shots I didn't always "see" the water. I am guessing that you want it to be obvious that we are shooting through water?

Yes, that's the challenge...

Hmmm...now I'm confused... I shot this before I read your post to Sean. Does it count because you can see the surface of the water?




(Yeah, a composite of two frames...my "fruit dropper" had some creative ownership and insisted )

Originally Posted by OffTopic Hmmm...now I'm confused... I shot this before I read your post to Sean. Does it count because you can see the surface of the water? (Yeah, a composite of two frames...my "fruit dropper" had some creative ownership and insisted )

Lori, this is very good all by itself , but can you please redo with the correction in mind

Giving it another go...


"Sunken Treasure"

Originally Posted by spb13 Giving it another go... "Sunken Treasure"

Sean,
better , but not good enough
I can't tell if it's a submerged object or simply a very soft shot.
The assignment is rather difficult, make no mistake thinking it ain't...
You want to see the liquid, yet you don't want to see it too much.
Very careful lighting and angling is needed to do it right...

Originally Posted by Nikolai Sean, better , but not good enough I can't tell if it's a submerged object or simply a very soft shot. The assignment is rather difficult, make no mistake thinking it ain't... You want to see the liquid, yet you don't want to see it too much. Very careful lighting and angling is needed to do it right...

It is certainly not an easy one.

From the same session I have this one. Making the water move a little makes it show up better, but I wasn't sure about all the reflections.



By the way...thanks for the challenge.

Originally Posted by spb13 It is certainly not an easy one. From the same session I have this one. Making the water move a little makes it show up better, but I wasn't sure about all the reflections. By the way...thanks for the challenge.

I think this one is better theme-wise. The primary gotchas at this point:
1) way not enough light hence very soft borderline oof images
2) very muddy feeling to the whole shot
Think of sumbission to "Fishtank Quarterly"...

Originally Posted by Nikolai I think this one is better theme-wise. The primary gotchas at this point: 1) way not enough light hence very soft borderline oof images 2) very muddy feeling to the whole shot Think of sumbission to "Fishtank Quarterly"...

OK then...back to the drawing board.

Ok after much consideration and seeing how this thread progressed...this is what I came up with. Shot in a clear glass bowl with red food coloring and white shell. Only lighting was ambient light from under the cabnits overhead and a pen flashlight held by my lil one. Bubbles and water effect made by stirring things up with my hand (which is now a pretty pink color).


iso 500
ss 1/30
aperture f/5.6
48mm FL
taken today.

I originally was thinking of doing boiling eggs...but I was concerned about the steam that could cause camera problems.

Originally Posted by JAG Ok after much consideration and seeing how this thread progressed...this is what I came up with. Shot in a clear glass bowl with red food coloring and white shell. Only lighting was ambient light from under the cabnits overhead and a pen flashlight held by my lil one. Bubbles and water effect made by stirring things up with my hand (which is now a pretty pink color). iso 500 ss 1/30 aperture f/5.6 48mm FL taken today. I originally was thinking of doing boiling eggs...but I was concerned about the steam that could cause camera problems.

Joyce, I like it a lot!
It's clearly in the right direction. Great lighting/colors!
My only gripe is that the surface is clearly in focus while the submerged primary subject (shell) is not...

Originally Posted by Nikolai Joyce, I like it a lot! It's clearly in the right direction. Great lighting/colors! My only gripe is that the surface is clearly in focus while the submerged primary subject (shell) is not...

Thanks Nikolai. I had a hard time with this. I would focus on the shell...then mix the water...it made the shell look blurred in all the shots that I mixed the water to get ripples and bubbles. Do you have any suggestions on how to not get this? This is the only picture that came out with bubbles that were somewhat clear...I think the focus was more on the surface of the water in the other shots the water and bubbles were really blurred...along with the shell. I was thinking that when I shot and the shell was clear...and the surface was still....you could not really tell it was underwater.

Originally Posted by JAG Thanks Nikolai. I had a hard time with this. I would focus on the shell...then mix the water...it made the shell look blurred in all the shots that I mixed the water to get ripples and bubbles. Do you have any suggestions on how to not get this? This is the only picture that came out with bubbles that were somewhat clear...I think the focus was more on the surface of the water in the other shots the water and bubbles were really blurred...along with the shell. I was thinking that when I shot and the shell was clear...and the surface was still....you could not really tell it was underwater.

I think you need to use f/8 or smaller (larger f/values), focus manually on the shell when the water is still and then start fooling around with the surface.

I asked my husband if he would jump in the pool and make funny faces at me while holding his breath under water and he said "absolutely not"!


Absolutely...... hmmm....

I like the goose personally...



If that's not enough surface showing, maybe this one:



Like those psychedelic reflections?


Better Nikolai? Closer? Drink more vodka and try again?

Originally Posted by OffTopic I asked my husband if he would jump in the pool and make funny faces at me while holding his breath under water and he said "absolutely not"! Absolutely...... hmmm.... I like the goose personally... If that's not enough surface showing, maybe this one: Like those psychedelic reflections? Better Nikolai? Closer? Drink more vodka and try again?

These are very nice, but they show too much of a container.
The idea is to capture a submerged item without an in-your-face proof of a vessel holding the liquid, yet to show the liquid, too...

okay i went a bit crazy with this assignment and had a blast at it... but i'm a wienie and want to post them one at a time... i'm concerned there is too much surface disturbance.... but i guess we'll see....