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Earthrise over reef
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Earthrise over reef

by Rusty Childress

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted April 13, 2015100 views9 comments

D3x, ISO 100, f22, 1/115th

The Wakatobi Dive Resort in indonsia is hard to get to but has some very calm surface water, at times.  In calm weather, a diver can look upward to see the entire hemisphere of the sky compressed into a circle over her head—a phenomenon called Snell’s window, caused by the bending of light as it enters water

Comments

9 comments
Comment posted by Jim Erhardt on April 13, 2015 at 7:25 PM

I like how you used the combination of flash, the diver in silhouette holding a light in the Snell's window to create this image. Nicely done!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 245 Posts, 2421 Comments
Comment posted by Rusty Childress on April 13, 2015 at 7:33 PM

Generally I use 2-3 strobes for wide angle on half power so that I have a good recycle time.  The strobes are place in such a way as to minimize backscatter, yet achieve illumination of the foreground.

When I use a model they require hand signals for placement, they also need to be coached before entering the water on how to point the strobe 15 degrees away from the camera.

 

Registered on April 3, 2015, 3 Posts, 5 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Gavin on April 13, 2015 at 8:25 PM

Love it.

Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments
Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on April 13, 2015 at 8:49 PM

Wow, I've never heard of this phenomenon. This is a wonderful, unique image. Love the in focus coral and the diver to give it scale and interest.

Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments
Comment posted by Allen Brooks on April 14, 2015 at 1:21 PM

This is pretty cool.  Without the coral and diver it would look as if it was a photo of the earth take from space.  One thought would be to clone out the light the diver is holding as it does tend to draw the eye.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments
Comment posted by Max Waugh on April 15, 2015 at 2:30 PM

Very interesting composition, Rusty.  Is there a specific focal length needed to capture the window effect?

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments
Comment posted by Rusty Childress on April 15, 2015 at 2:36 PM

Most of my reefscapes are captured using a 15mm Sigma fisheye lens.  But that is just my preference, not a rule.  I like close focus wide angle.

Registered on April 3, 2015, 3 Posts, 5 Comments
Comment posted by Betty-Lou Luyken on April 18, 2015 at 11:45 AM

Absolutely gorgeous image. I love it!! It's a unique view of the underwater world. Well done!!!

Registered on July 9, 2007, 17 Posts, 82 Comments
Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on May 1, 2015 at 8:29 AM

Intriguingly wonderful shot.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments