Shooting Raw, looking for tips. First time using Adobe lightroom

Smite

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#1
I'm trying to figure out how to get accurate photos. I can get pretty close shooting in pro mode with my galaxy edge but I've got a DSLR (oldie Nikon D80) sitting around and want to learn how to better use it.

This is my first go of it. I shot during my peak light cycle, AB+ program on Radion xr30 G5 blues. I've never shot in Raw before. I usually just set my K highest it'll go @ 9900 do let it be but certain colors never really showed up or showed up falsely. I feel these are pretty darn close. I'm not sure why the details on my snails and rocks look like a damn painting, I'm assuming it was the settings I was using but not sure.

I'm basic as hell on camera settings. Through troubleshooting and seeing what gets me close I shoot in "A" mode on my camera, or aperture priority. These were set at 5.6 - 6.3, exposure -.07 and the shutter speed was decided for me in mode A. Lens is what came with the camera, 18-55mm. Cheapo super macro lense/wide angle attachment I found on amazon a few years back.

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I tried shooting under 100% RB, but no amount of tweaking pulled any color out for me. Totally lost there, I'm assuming I still need some type of gel filter for that. I see amazon has cheap Tekon filters, one is dark "orange 21" and the other a little lighter "orange 16". I may pull the trigger on the 16, looks close to what reef shades use.
 

joseserrano

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#2
Get a good lens and a filter for the blue. You will adjust iso and shutter speed. You’ll still have to make slight adjustments post. But fairly easy. Good lens makes all the difference
 

Smite

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Get a good lens and a filter for the blue. You will adjust iso and shutter speed. You’ll still have to make slight adjustments post. But fairly easy. Good lens makes all the difference
Are we are talking some type of macro lens, is there a go to? Also is the filter just a straight orange filter or a certain color number or something?
 

joseserrano

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Are we are talking some type of macro lens, is there a go to? Also is the filter just a straight orange filter or a certain color number or something?
Avast sells the filter with the porthole. Lens is depending on hi to camera. You’ll have to do some research on what ppl use with your brand. You will most likely be looking for a macro lens
 
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#5
Your shells and rocks look like a painting because of the low depth of field when using that macro filter on your lens. Macro shots have a much lower depth of field, and those filters tend to exacerbate the effect around the sides and corners. Macro lenses will have the same shallow depth of field, but be more even across the frame than a screw on filter.

That is part of why you see so many corals shot with a tripod on slightly longer exposures then you would want to hand hold. You can choose a higher aperture like F11 or F16 if you like, but that is going to compromise your ISO and shutter rating. I would recommend you pick the F stop you like, set the shutter speed to 60 minimum (125 is better) and then use your ISO to get you the right exposure. That Nikon might even have an auto ISO setting.

Your shots do look very good.

If you are editing in lightroom one great trick for sharpening these would be to set your sharpening amount to something ridiculously high, like 90 and then set the masking for the sharpening to about the same, 90. You can go higher on the amount but not to much higher on the masking or it will have no effect.

Another great tip for you would be to create a preset for your tank, at different times of the day. Then next time you want to shoot at the same light condition, you can apply that preset to all of the photo's and give you a very good close place to start from.

Lightroom is a very powerful tool. I used it daily for a very long time. Best tip I ever heard was, once you use Lightroom, never cheat on Lightroom. If you go moving files in other programs Lightroom gets all jealous. It's a mess.

You are not to far away, if it weren't for Covid I would offer to show you some Lightroom tricks. If you haven't figured it out by then, I would be glad to help out some. I am not the best coral photographer, but I was a professional photographer for 22 years. I know a couple tricks.

Good Luck
 

djrice69

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#6
I think your pictures looks great already
 

five.five-six

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#7
Are we are talking some type of macro lens, is there a go to? Also is the filter just a straight orange filter or a certain color number or something?
It depends on what body you have. I have Nikon F mount so many agree it’s the 105 for that body. I have struggled wit my setup but I got the body with over 100K clicks on it and have been advised to either replace it or send it in.

Get a submersible gray card and use it to set WB, that’s going to be a giant leap forward.


Your photos look great!
 

five.five-six

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#8
Your shells and rocks look like a painting because of the low depth of field when using that macro filter on your lens. Macro shots have a much lower depth of field, and those filters tend to exacerbate the effect around the sides and corners. Macro lenses will have the same shallow depth of field, but be more even across the frame than a screw on filter.
when I shoot with my 105 and a tube or two, my DOF is only a few milimeters and that’s with a crop sensor. Full frame sensor would be worse.

 

Smite

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Your shells and rocks look like a painting because of the low depth of field when using that macro filter on your lens. Macro shots have a much lower depth of field, and those filters tend to exacerbate the effect around the sides and corners. Macro lenses will have the same shallow depth of field, but be more even across the frame than a screw on filter.

That is part of why you see so many corals shot with a tripod on slightly longer exposures then you would want to hand hold. You can choose a higher aperture like F11 or F16 if you like, but that is going to compromise your ISO and shutter rating. I would recommend you pick the F stop you like, set the shutter speed to 60 minimum (125 is better) and then use your ISO to get you the right exposure. That Nikon might even have an auto ISO setting.

Your shots do look very good.

If you are editing in lightroom one great trick for sharpening these would be to set your sharpening amount to something ridiculously high, like 90 and then set the masking for the sharpening to about the same, 90. You can go higher on the amount but not to much higher on the masking or it will have no effect.

Another great tip for you would be to create a preset for your tank, at different times of the day. Then next time you want to shoot at the same light condition, you can apply that preset to all of the photo's and give you a very good close place to start from.

Lightroom is a very powerful tool. I used it daily for a very long time. Best tip I ever heard was, once you use Lightroom, never cheat on Lightroom. If you go moving files in other programs Lightroom gets all jealous. It's a mess.

You are not to far away, if it weren't for Covid I would offer to show you some Lightroom tricks. If you haven't figured it out by then, I would be glad to help out some. I am not the best coral photographer, but I was a professional photographer for 22 years. I know a couple tricks.

Good Luck
That's an awesome offer, thank you.

That makes complete sense. I did figure out I can copy a setting and apply it to my other photos which is awesome. I'll have to look into setting a profile! Thanks for the heads up.
 

Smite

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#13
when I shoot with my 105 and a tube or two, my DOF is only a few milimeters and that’s with a crop sensor. Full frame sensor would be worse.

Gotcha. Very nice picture.

I've tried to set my white balance off new plugs, white acrylic and even schedule 80 PVC but it always seems to over correct. Like there is no blue in the pictures. I'll check out the cards and give that a go too.

I'm gonna look I to finding a used macro lense, good to know different macros do better with x frame. I have no idea how many clicks this thing has it's pretty old so hopefully I can find a decent macro used around 200, otherwise I'll be dropping more than the camera is worth.

Thanks everyone for the input.
 

joseserrano

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#15
You are only going to be modifying a few things in any editing software. Dialing in to realistic or vivid quality photos. Most of the work will be done in the shooting. The filter and lens will do most of the work for you
 
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#16
That's an awesome offer, thank you.

That makes complete sense. I did figure out I can copy a setting and apply it to my other photos which is awesome. I'll have to look into setting a profile! Thanks for the heads up.
Creating the preset is very easy. Then you can save it. When you save it give it a descriptive name, like Red acro at 6pm. Then if you shoot at the same time next time you can use the same camera setting and the same preset to really see the changes in color and growth.

I did some work for ATI and had to come up with a specific system with the same settings and editing for their advertisements. It is a very easy thing to set up.

You can even keep those presets in a specific folder so they aren't in the way when working with other things.

Presets and batch editing really is one of the best features of Lightroom IME.
 

Smite

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Creating the preset is very easy. Then you can save it. When you save it give it a descriptive name, like Red acro at 6pm. Then if you shoot at the same time next time you can use the same camera setting and the same preset to really see the changes in color and growth.

I did some work for ATI and had to come up with a specific system with the same settings and editing for their advertisements. It is a very easy thing to set up.

You can even keep those presets in a specific folder so they aren't in the way when working with other things.

Presets and batch editing really is one of the best features of Lightroom IME.
Very good to know. I'm participating in that color up contest so this will come in very handy for showing true change.
 

Smite

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#18
Looks like some of you are local to me, know of any good camera shops that carry second hand gear? I always worry about buying things I know little about 2nd hand off marketplace or CL
 
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Looks like some of you are local to me, know of any good camera shops that carry second hand gear? I always worry about buying things I know little about 2nd hand off marketplace or CL
Thanks for starting this thread. I am following along and learning so much! Been saving up for a macro lens.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
 

djrice69

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#20
too bad you shoot nikon I got ton of canon gear I’m selling
 
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