Kevin Kohen's (Diver's Den) office tanks

[glparr]

I had a chance to join the Wisconsin FVRC group for their visit to the Diver's Den facility in Rhinelander, WI. The collection of corals available for purchase was amazing but, in my own sick way, the highlight of the day was being able to photograph Live Aquaria director Kevin Kohen's collection in the tanks in his office. Here are the results.
Gary

1. Starfish on a clam

2. Starfish on a clam

3. Scolymia

4. Nemateleotris helfrichi

5. Sea apple

6. Dendrophyllia

7. Echinata, 13-image stack

8. Favia, might be Tyree Mystic Grape, 15-image stack

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

These are some really slick shots. The colors are phenomenal, not to mention each image is sharp enough to put an eye out. Well done!

 

[Misled]

Wow Gary, Be-au-ti-ful!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Reeftanks6]

Very nice

 

[mpoletti]

Gary, I know kevin is holding my wrasse in his office tank

 

[Reef Bass]

Beautiful Gary. Great colors and sharpness.

Awesome stacking job. Was the Scoly pic (#3) stacked as well?

 

[glparr]

Thanks to all.

Reef Bass, Sorry, my error. Yes, the scolymia is a stack of 17 images. Thanks for pointing out the omission.

Gary

 

[SteveM10]

Very nice, especially the last one.

 

[FishyBiz]

Specs on the tank?
No FTS???

 

[FishyBiz]

and what equipment are you using?

Thanks

 

[glparr]

Fishy, sorry no FTS. They don't do much for me, so I tend to forget to take them. I have no idea what equipment Kevin uses. Sorry I'm no help, beyond showing you some of the things that he has in his tank.
Gary

 

[puffer21]

What do you mean by a 15-image stack???

 

[glparr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14784176#post14784176 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by puffer21
What do you mean by a 15-image stack???

For that particular image, I took a series of 15 shots using a relatively shallow depth of field. With each shot, my focus point was progressively deeper into the scene, while overlapping the depth of field with each shot. The 15 shots are then converted to tif files and combined into one image using Helicon Focus software. The software keeps all of the data that are in focus and rejects the out-of-focus data. The end result is considerably more depth of field than is possible with a single shot. Below is a top-down shot, done at Midwest Saltwater, that involves five images. If you poke around in the Reefs gallery at my website, you'll see several other stacked images. It's a very addicting technique. My website is [url]www.gparr.com[/URL]
Gary

 

[IPT]

Very, very nice. Love the DOF you get with that technique. Sharpness is insane, and colors are saturated but not blown out. My hats off to you.

Tried to get to your personal site but the link didn;t work

 

[Reef Bass]

Not only is my hat off, but I think my eyeballs popped out! :eek1: I need to put them back in now.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[glparr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14785612#post14785612 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IPT
Very, very nice. Love the DOF you get with that technique. Sharpness is insane, and colors are saturated but not blown out. My hats off to you.

Tried to get to your personal site but the link didn;t work

Thanks. Not sure why the link didn't work. Just type www.gparr.com into your browser. That should work.
Gary

 

[glparr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14785665#post14785665 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reef Bass
Not only is my hat off, but I think my eyeballs popped out! :eek1: I need to put them back in now.

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, Reef. Photographing corals is one of my favorite things to do and stacking images just adds to the fun.
Gary

 

[swjim]

Awesome images! Thanks for sharing!

 

[cadfishco]

I have been shooting photography for some 18 years now, and never did I even think of stacking my reef shots, this is like a revelation that was in front of me the whole time. Thank you for sharing your shots with us.

 

[jayk198030]

Beautiful pics GLPARR. as if reefing was not expensive enough. makes me want to get a d90 and top of the line macro lens and that nifty Helicon Focus software. very,very nice man!!