Why Predive checks and protocols are critical...
We arrived onto the action almost immediately, and had no time to prepare beyond the obvious. The baitball action we were on was sporadic and scrambled, nothing tightly defined, but something. I had decided to try a different auto focus setting with a larger number of potential focus points, and immediately realised that this was not going to work for action as intense as that which you witness underwater on the sardine run. So in the midst of some precious moments of gannets diving and dolphins blasting past, I was fumbling with camera controls, BIG MISTAKE! Back at base, I downloaded my images to discover that my ISO setting had been left on 800 - what a school boy error. Images grainy. Sacked! Had that been the mother of all baitballs, I would have been devastated. Important school fees paid, will not repeat that error again. Lesson learnt - Define your predive checks and complete them, no matter what.
Gannets diving, shot at ISO 800 in error, beware the grain!
Jun 5, 2008
Reader Comments (3)
Can you please let me know what a gannets diving is ?
ISO 800 shouldn't be that bad, maybe trade in for a d300. The difference in price would probably be worth the high iso ability? Still a good anecdote and a very valid point- stick to your guns when it comes to predive checks. So very jealous of you guys hanging out with dolphins all day!!
Boy do I know the feeling and it can really make your stomach turn. Another mistake I have made is to have imporper ev settings. The work you are doing is dreamy and your results make it obvious why you have been chosen. Thank you for sharing the experiences and providing inspiration for us.