sps overexposed w/ rebel and 100mm

[whodah]

hello all!

i've kinda figured out how to use this digital rebel w/ 100mm macro lens...

turn off the pumps, use a tripod and timer, apeture priority mode, f-stop 11, point and shoot.

for things that 'absorb' light, i'm set! (zoanthids, shrooms)

i'm able to get shots like this:



however, time and time again, when i shoot sps, the tops are overexposed. it's like things that absorb light, i'm good w/. things that reflect light, i'm getting overexposure.

anybody out there using the same rig that could give some pointers for taking better shots right off the bat vs. having to photoshop them?

thx!!

PS: i'm using the same settings on the SPS as i am the softies...

[Ira NZ]

If it's being overexposed, why not manually shorten the shutter time?

[whodah]

i will try that, ty!

[Mekong]

If you really get problems you could take a 3 frame bracket exposing the 2-3 diffrent regions you want in perfect exposure, and then photoshop them together almost seamlessly if they are taken on a tripod.

[whodah]

woa... interesting...

[TS]

Exposure compensation and the histogram are your friends... use negative exposure compensation until the "mountain" doesn't go over the right edge of your histogram.

[Mekong]

Often times you cant get the two "mountians" with in the range of the brackets, thats were exposure zones and multipul exposures help.

Also you could use the dodge/burn tool in photoshop but that will only help so much.

Do you use "levels" in photoshop?

[whodah]

usually not... i have a hard time trying to make the coral as realistic looking as possible w/out getting accused of 'photoshopping' the pic, so generally i just crop/post exactly what the camera takes.

i'm not saying it's wrong to photoshop them, just that i don't seem to have good luck w/ it myself, heh!