MACRO DIVE: COMPOSED AS A CHEF

Text and photos: Christopher BARTLETT

That's it ! We get to the heart of the matter, or how to immortalize these wonderful poiscailles. Today, let's take a closer look at macro composition ...

The angle

The fact of photographing from the top down or often from the back is a unique factor that turns a good photo into a crappy photo. Would you do it, on earth, with a human or a dog as your subject? Plus, underwater it'll give you a rough background or blue-green sand. You need to try to bring your eyes to the same level as your subject's eyes. However, there are still exceptions such as ...

• Abstracts taken up close
• The mantas

• Turtles
• Whale sharks
• Underwater landscapes
• Shipwrecks
• Intense contact with the subject's eye.

Backgrounds and backgrounds

In macro, it is better that you avoid too messy or overexposed backgrounds. You will gain by trying to bring out the subject with a blue background - with more light, that is to say a larger hole - or black - with less light, that is to say with a small hole around ”f 16 ″ or more.

Natural frames

Nature is sometimes well done. Especially underwater. And I fully agree with that every time I go to town ;-). Natural frames are perfect pto bring out the little creature of your dreams. You just need a little patience to find the perfect place.

Composite backgrounds

It will not always be possible to frame your subject against a background of blue or black water, depending on your preference. But you can sometimes take it on composite backgrounds that put these little creatures in value.

The diagonals

It seems that the human eye and brain like diagonals. I cannot debate this subject with the big names in science, but I trust them and I apply this rule.

Diagonals and patterned backgrounds

The rule of thirds

You have to divide the screen into nine squares, using two horizontal lines intersected by two vertical lines, which most devices display on their screen. The idea is to place one of the key elements on one of these lines, because if you center the subject's eyes, you can end up with a lot of "negative" space, i.e. considerable parts of the line. image that will be of little interest. According to this rule of thirds, the eyes must be at least on one of the lines.

From the abstract

And then, if there are no more fish to disturb, we can always focus on other subjects, such as crinoids or the mouth of a starfish, with a Periclimenes soror shrimp as a bonus, why not…

Okay… that will be all for today. It's finally nice and warm, so I suggest that everyone jump in… while I stay glued to my desk !.

Happy summer bubbles to all ...