Hunter From Above
Wherever there is some floating vegetation in the lake, expect a snake hiding and hunting from within the shade there.
This photo is of the snake...
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Wherever there is some floating vegetation in the lake, expect a snake hiding and hunting from within the shade there.
This photo is of the snake recoiling back after an unsuccessful strike.
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This photo is of the snake recoiling back after an unsuccessful strike.
Read less
Jun, 2020Views
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Summer 2020
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Behind The Lens
Location
I made this shot in Lake Ohrid about 200 meters southward from my home, during one of my regular snorkeling swims.Time
Time of exposure was July 29th at 12:45:44 (noontime, almost vertical lighting...)Lighting
Here it is, the whole of it: Shutter Speed 1/100 sec, f/3.2, ISO 100, 0.00 eV, Metering Mode Pattern, Flash did not fire, Focal Length 5.5 mm... meaning that only the daylight was used. The photo has been shot out of (one) hand. My camera is adapted for one-hand operation so I can use the other hand for stabilization in the water.Equipment
My camera for that day was an Olympus Tough TG-2, as I alternate between it, the Paralenz DiveCam, and an ThiEYE action cam in its underwater casing. The Olympus I use out of hand, the others I may decide to use differently - it will depend upon the purpose of the shoot.Inspiration
Snorkelling is my replacement for mere swimming, as I plain forgot how to swim without the mask and fins, and then there also has to be a camera along. So I either dive or snorkel every Summer day. While snorkeling, I'll usually have a pattern consisting of going out near the reed forest to see what's going on in that ecological system, and on my return leg I'd check the deeper waters. This shot was in the reed-covered shallows, and scenes like this one are equally common as they're a motivation in itself. Needless to say, there's enough inspiration in whatever glimpse of the subaquatic activity I meet, and it really needs no extra invitation to photograph it.Editing
The photo is nearly SOOC, save some slight correction of horizontality, and cropping to the actual theme at hand. Nothing else needed be done.In my camera bag
Underwater, I'll use the mask, fins and a snorkel, or a SCUBA set... but I'll be carrying either one or two cameras. Olympus can only stand so much pressure, while the Paralens can safely go much deeper than me, so it will be depth- and purpose-dependent.. On dry land it's different. I find it easier to carry a photo vest than any photo bag. So I load my photo vest with whatever I might need for my photo session, walk or trip, while my photo bags usually keep the equipment I'm not using at the moment. The vest's many pockets usually contain two cameras, spare batteries, ND and CPL filters, and one photo clamp standing in for a tripod. Recently I include a small action camera, mainly for its wide field of view and resistance to water and weather. The vest also has large-lens pockets that contain a small water bottle, sandwich, or a bar of chocolate if I plan on being out for the whole day. There is about three meters length of paracord or similar strong, thin rope, one hefty pocket knife, and a lighter. My smartphone comes along too. It has yet another spare camera, but more importantly the Spirit Level App wich I use to make the phone a perfectly horizontal surface under my camera. This is essential for panoramic sweeps. The app is free, and requires no extra permissions whatsoever. The large back pocket of the vest is reserved for a lightweight rain poncho. If the weather suddenly plays up, the poncho neatly covers all. Using the tools mentioned above, much can be improvised along the way, so that's all I need to make photos.Feedback
Let me illustrate it with an error I've made today. Instead of leaving my usual camera settings on my TG-2, I thought I'd try one of its Underwater modes. And like a fool, I switched to that mode, plain forgetting its optical implications! And when I found a nice, colorful frog trying to hide in the bottom vegetation, I approached it so closely that the camera was not able to focus. All the photos of the "frog series" were unsharp! Of course, when I noticed this it was too late to do anything about it. Since the frogs are not the most patient models, it took me some time to get close enough... but to my sorrow, it was too close! So there is a thing or two to learn from this: test your camera beforehand, and remember the limitations for each of the settings! Even shorter, know your camera if you expect to come home with correct exposures! Because Lady Luck can't always be at your side! Enjoy, and Be Safe! :)
