Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Freckled Hawkfish on his perch

  1. #1
    BPN Viewer Bruce Enns's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Castlegar, British Columbia
    Posts
    531
    Threads
    92
    Thank You Posts

    Default Freckled Hawkfish on his perch

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Hi all, This is a Freckled Hawkfish from the Roma reef near Wakatobi dive resort in Sulawesi Indonesia. They are called Hawkfish because of their habit of perching on the edge of coral formations and scanning for prey. The background of this image required considerable clean up because of lots of little dead coral fingers (which turn very white) and are quite distracting if not dealt with in PP. I like the colours and the attitude of this fish. This would have been a more compelling image if the dark background had been dark blue water rather than empty black space...i.e. more of a fill flash and less of a flash as main light exposure.

    Canon Rebel XT in Ikelite housing with DS125 and DS50 strobes in E-TTL mode, Canon EF-S 60mm macro, AV mode, ISO 100, 1/200s, f/16

    Comments and critiques are welcome and much appreciated. Thanks for looking!

    Cheers!
    Bruce

  2. #2
    Ákos Lumnitzer
    Guest

    Default

    Awesome catch Bruce I love all aspects. Great colors, that's why I always loved the u/w world!
    Please tell me you also have the Long-nose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus) in your collection! Those are my personal favorites.

  3. #3
    BPN Viewer Bruce Enns's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Castlegar, British Columbia
    Posts
    531
    Threads
    92
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Akos, Me too...great colours and a new subject every few feet on good reefs! Unfortunately, no, the Longnose (also one of my favorites) was on my wanted list, but I never saw one for the whole trip in Bali or Wakatobi...I don't think they are particularly common there.

    Psst. Pygmy over in macro

    Cheers!
    Bruce

  4. #4
    Ákos Lumnitzer
    Guest

    Default

    Gotcha buddy! Query already to Australian Museum Ichthyologist mate re: ID of the Hippocampus sp. ;) I am quick you know?

  5. #5
    Robert Amoruso
    Guest

    Default

    Big in the frame and very imposing Bruce. His habitat accentuates him well.

    I suggest a reverse s-curve to lower contrast, tame highlights and open up shadows. More here http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=20434.

  6. #6
    Alfred Forns
    Guest

    Default

    Big Time impressive Love the in your face look !!

    Agree on the suggestion Robert For these fish we use flash as main or strong fill flash, much more than you would on land. Since there are no colors you need the light !! Whites are particularly problematic since they are also reflective !!!

  7. #7
    BPN Viewer Bruce Enns's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Castlegar, British Columbia
    Posts
    531
    Threads
    92
    Thank You Posts

    Default Repost with lowered contrast

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Thanks Robert and Alfred for the suggestion to lower the contrast...it was a bit over the top. Here is a reposted image with a reverse curves contrast reduction. Does this go far enough?

    Cheers!
    Bruce

  8. #8
    Robert Amoruso
    Guest

    Default

    I like it Bruce.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics