USVI-On-Line

Pickle - Thanks for the feedback.

Some additional photo geek questions if you don’t mind/if you can answer:
-- assume you use the “Underwater” scene setting. If not, what setting do you use?
-- Do you keep it in auto ISO, or do you manually set the ISO?
-- Do you use flash or shut it off?
-- I looked up the shooting range when the D10 is in Macro, and it says it is 1.2 inches to 1.6 ft. Is that your experience while in Macro - - that stuff from a couple inches away to about 18 inches away stays in focus, but if you float >18 inches away, I would imagine you lose image sharpness, correct? (assuming you use some sort of Auto Focus function)
-- What IS (Image Stabilization) mode do you use? I imagine it needs to be active for macro work while moving about underwater.

Understood if any of the above a bit too technical but could be useful for some. Thanks again.

jmq,

--- I use the underwater setting.
--- ISO is set in the auto mode. Too much for me to fiddle with it underwater.
--- If I float outside the range of the macro setting, I either use the zoom with the auto setting (which still takes decent shots - unless zooming in too much and losing crispness of the shots) or I end up diving. A lot of the close-up shots that I posted here are taken in rather shallow water where I can reach/shoot with my arms extended or with a little/shallow diving.
--- Continuous (is that what you mean?).

Not sure if I answered your questions. I am no photographer. Okay, now I have to leave for the baseball game.

Thanks Pic! Your photos are more proof of an old saying in photography: “It ain’t the bow, it’s the archer”. Hand a $250 point n shoot to a pro or semi-serious amateur, and hand a $2500 SLR to Joe or Sally WhoTakesSomeRandomPicturesOnVacation, then send them out into the exact same places, and you can guess what the results will look like.

Compared to film, digital technology has leveled the playing field so that you can get very nice results with a lot of point n shoots on the market. And, with a little bit of technique and thoughtfulness when taking pictures on land and underwater, and some simple editing after the fact (just like you do), lotsa folks can get some pretty great looking images, especially in a place like STJ.

jmq, I was in a hurry for the ballgame and might have missed the point of your question about the macro. I would think if I'm outside the range, the camera does not focus on the subject as it does when I'm within the range, but I've never deliberately tried to shoot from beyond the range for comparison, so not sure as to how much crispness images actually lose. If I get 'too close', it's quite obvious since I can see in the LCD that the camera does not focus at all.

Well, I love sea creatures. It might be love I put in those photos.

I've loved your trip report and your photos...wow! Absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing your trip with us...next best thing to being there.

have loved reading your report and seeing your amazing pictures! great job, and thank you.