The Point & Shoot Challenge

[gparr]

One of the more common complaints/excuses for out-of-focus, blue-tinted reef photos is "My camera takes crappy pictures." Actually, just about all of the time it's not the camera, it's the genius behind the camera. The challenge here is to break out the owners manual and make a minimal effort to get a decent shot with your point-and-shoot camera.

Images will only be accepted in this thread if the white balance has been adjusted (learn how to set a custom white balance) and if they are in focus (use a tripod or some other kind of support. A stool with some books to adjust the camera height can work. Also, use the camera's timer (it's in the owners manual) to trip the shutter so you don't move the camera. You also might discover, by reading your owners manual, that you can tell the camera where to focus.) Make sure the face of the lens is parallel with the glass and the glass is clean on both sides.

Remember, your photos will be deleted from the thread if they are not in focus and the white balance isn't corrected. In other words, no blue, blurred photos allowed. Also, list the model of your camera with your image.

I'll start out with two images, just to prove it can be done. These shots of a favia and pipe organ were done with the Canon Powershot SD1100 camera, a deck-of-cards-sized point and shoot.

Gary

 

[SDguy]

My new point and shoot doesn't have "custom" white balance, just preset options/variations, none of which remove all the blue... My old Canon elph did, but even that made everything look slightly green then. Actually, kind of like your pics above.

Best I can do... you can delete it if you want :bigsmile: This was with a Sony DSC W290.

White balance options are:
Auto
Daylight (for sunny outdoor scenes or scenery at night)
Cloudy (use on cloudy days or in the shade)
Fluorescent Light 1 (use under white fluorescent light)
Fluorescent Light 2 (use under natural white fluorescent light)
Fluorescent Light 3 (use under day white fluorescent light)
Incandescent
Flash (use when shooting with flash)

Auto and FL3 seem to remove the most amount of blue, though all still have some. I run 250W 14K phoenix bulbs on Icecap ballast, FWIW.

The rest of the stats:

 

[JR's Reef]

My new point and shoot doesn't have "custom" white balance, just preset options/variations, none of which remove all the blue...

Same here

 

[Blackhawk Fan]

Post the camera type and maybe Gary can help you guys.

 

[wicked demon]

I take all my pics with a "crappy" sony cybershot. No work is done (other than a resize) to any of my photos in photoshop or any other program.

 

[JNye]

camera-Panasonic FZ-18
lights-3xATI Blue+ and 1xActinic white.

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc247/********/071.jpg

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc247/********/031.jpg

 

[Acrokeeper3729]

I take all my photos with a cannon G10 point and shoot.
How are these?

 

[Mr E Wrasse]

nice shots Nick! I've got a G9 but I still haven't taken the time to adjust the white balance. The aquarium and underwater presets don't seem to bring out the natural colors

 

[SDguy]

nice shots Nick! I've got a G9 but I still haven't taken the time to adjust the white balance. The aquarium and underwater presets don't seem to bring out the natural colors

The 3 underwater presets on mine are ridiculous. They go from very blue, to even more blue, to purple. Shouldn't it be adding red, not blue??

 

[barbianj]

The first two are Canon SD1000. I don't edit or use a tripod. I also have a Canon 20D, but I find myself using the point and shoots more often.

My new Canon D10. Taken underwater.

 

[Tanked]

How about this one,

 

[JR's Reef]

This is the only one I have that was taking thru the glass with my Olympus Stylus

 

[gparr]

SD Guy: That’s too bad you can’t set a custom white balance. Do levels or auto color get you any closer to the correct color? At least the focus is reasonably good.

Wicked: It looks like your camera is handling white balance well, unless your lights are very white. You have motion blur. Are you using a tripod/support. That top shot could use a little less exposure to get better color saturation.

Poo: nice color, a little motion blur, try a little less exposure to get better detail/saturation and avoid some of the blown areas. On the bottom shot, try to fill the frame with the mount/coral so the sensor isn’t fooled by the light/white background.

Nicks: It looks like your white balance is off by quite a bit. The white areas are white because they’re blown. Where they’re not blown, there is a definite blue cast.

Barbianj: If you used some kind of camera support, you’d have some solid shots.

Tanked: Color looks good, but there’s either distortion, motion blur, or both. Are you square to the glass and using a tripod/support?

JR: White balance seems a little blue and I’m seeing distortion/blur. Are you square to the glass and using camera support?

 

[ladyreefer1983]

taken with sony dsc-h50..

i know this one is kinda ugly because of the reflection of the lights,this is my problem when taking pics topdown..how can i avoid it?

 

[JNye]

Thanks for the feedback Gary! Those are top down and I don't have a tripod for that yet:cry: working on it though...def some motion blur, good eye...delete post if needed...just hadda say I appreciate the feedback.

 

[gparr]

Changed my mind. I'm not going to delete any images. People are giving an honest effort and not just posting the usual blue/blurred photos, so keeping all image is proving educational.
Gary

 

[gparr]

Luisse,
Your first two images are very nice. Get tighter and employ the Rule of Thirds in the second one and you'll get a more compelling image.

Your top-down shots will be better if you have the lens face parallel with the water surface. The refraction that occurs at any angle quickly distorts and blurs. Light reflections are avoided by moving the corals to the edge of the tank or by tilting the light away from the coral. In both cases you give up light and end up using a slower shutter speed, but it's better than those nasty reflections.

Your last shot is too cluttered. Get tighter on the main subject and employ the Rule of Thirds.

Where are you located? I'd like to have a whack at photographing some of those corals.

Gary

 

[ladyreefer1983]

Luisse,
Your first two images are very nice. Get tighter and employ the Rule of Thirds in the second one and you'll get a more compelling image.

Your top-down shots will be better if you have the lens face parallel with the water surface. The refraction that occurs at any angle quickly distorts and blurs. Light reflections are avoided by moving the corals to the edge of the tank or by tilting the light away from the coral. In both cases you give up light and end up using a slower shutter speed, but it's better than those nasty reflections.

Your last shot is too cluttered. Get tighter on the main subject and employ the Rule of Thirds.

Where are you located? I'd like to have a whack at photographing some of those corals.

Gary

thank u for the info gary..i would really love to learn to take god pics without purchasing expensive camera(which i am tempted to:xd
whats the rule of thirds?
i am located in washington state:sad:

thanks charisse

 

[gparr]

A Google search will give you several sites that explain the rule.
Gary

 

[ladyreefer1983]

i will take another topdown pictures when i have a chance and i will show u again and let me know if theres any improvements..

thank u so much gary

charisse