Green turtle up close

[Mike Poole]

I'd had a great day diving with a variety of reef sharks (too far away for decent shots unfortunately), and we decided that it had been so enjoyable we'd try a 3rd dive on a reef near our base. It was part way through that this Green Turtle showed an interest in us, and buzzed me on a couple of occasions.

This is the full frame as he gave me a little look back, nothing at all cropped out, which is pretty rare for U/W stuff.

BG darkened a little to be less distracting, and as ever, some backscatter particles dealt with by way of the spot healing tool.

Canon 7d
60mm
ISO 200
1/125th, f8
Subal camera housing and 2 x inon z240 strobes fitted with warming filters to aid the light temperature.

Mike

[David Cowling]

Nice one Mike. I don't know anything about uw photography but I like the colours and sharpness of the animal. Nice to see a different presentation of a turtle. I know these can be quite big but he seems to be right on top of you. It must have been a wonderful experience. Used to see a lot of these when I was working in the Maldives.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Nice colours here Mike, and I like the framing (can imagine a turtle being a difficult thing to frame close-up).
I do think the critical sharpness is lacking, not sure if it was due to water clarity etc?
I could see this working a tad darker with more local contrast.

[Andre Pretorius]

Hi Mike

Have never done underwater photography, never even been there!
Can not comment on colours, but would reduce magentas a bit.
The eye and comp with dark BG attracted me to this image.
Maybe another round of selective sharpening on head?

Must have been an amazing experience!

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Mike - I always like your underwater images. Great clear view of the eye here. The turtle pops well against the dark bg. I too see more magenta than I have seen in the sea turtles I've seen in person. Agree on the sharpening.

TFS,
Rachel

[Mike Poole]

Thanks all.

The magenta areas around the neck have certainly got me puzzled. I have a few frames of this turtle, and it's consistent throughout, so must be some for of abnormality - I've never seen it so strong before.

I held off the sharpening as it made the carapace look too gritty with all the same, but maybe a little more on the face may help.

Mike

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Mike, have swam with Turtles in the Caribbean & galapagos, but never photographed them, they are so graceful & beautiful animals and a nice experience of which I'm sure you have had plenty. Love the textures and colours within the shell.

Not saying this is right, but adjusting the main colours I think helps remove some of the bias that may have stem within the original, just a thought.

TFS
Steve

[haseeb badar]

Hi Mike -- Not at all familiar with the colours of this creature but i feel Steves RP more pleasing in terms of colours at least to my eyes and it also eliminates too much of blueish cast . nevertheless this is a lovely image . TFS !