Yawning juvi

[RazorBlade]

Hi all!

Here's a capture of my F1 Otopharynx lithobates "Zimbawe Rocks", bred off WC parents. Please critique!

http://aquatic-photography.com/gallery/files/2/1/9/Oto.jpg

Nikon D70 + SB800 Flash
EXIF Info: 1/320 sec, F4.5, 55mm (90mm equivalent), ISO 200
RAW Conversion via Adobe PhotoShop CS

P.S. #1 I believe the lighting is still 'too strong at the back', and the sand is still giving me hotspots. :S

P.S. #2 I submitted this photo to the Cichlid-forum photo contest - not bad at #5. :D

[paradise]

John, dont know why this is not getting replies, so I will be first :)

You pretty much critiqued it yourself, it's backlit a bit. Try setting the flash in front of the fish not above it, maybe at a slight angle towards it. For some reason you are really lighting up those rocks. Theoretically you can get rid of the hot spots using the clone tool, and blur or clone out those fish in the background. I think you cropped it well and it's very clean and sharp. Maybe just a tad more contrast for "punch".

Overall, a great shot, and worthy more than #5 spot, but that is a totally diff. topic. :)

[hir0]

this is a stunning fish. i like the shot as well. i think it would look better not so in the middle of the frame, especially top to bottom. i think the out of focus fish in the background is a very good idea, but the ones in this shot are too in focus. of course the hotspots...

[RazorBlade]

Thanks Ed & hir0.

Improvising on the setup, especially the flash.

On the background, I can't blur it much further with my kit lens (without using PS editing). Need to get another lens but the wallet is not willing. :P

On the crop - well, I didn't have much room for this one (due to the other fishes in the frame). Community tank, pretty well stocked now that my juvi are in there.

Thanks for the critique - haha, at least I know what went wrong too! :P