Strobe Power Guide for Underwater Photographers

Alex and Adam discuss strobe power. They talk about when it is needed and how the quality of light produced by strobes is more important than the amount of light they output. They also provided some tips about how to play to the strengths of your particular strobe, rather than trying to make each one good for all purposes.
The episode was kindly sponsored by Nauticam: www.nauticam.com/
See Alex's work at www.amustard.com
Wetpixel is the source for all things to do with underwater imaging: wetpixel.com

[@peterturnham5134]

My strobe choice is arrived at the opposite way. I spent 20 years shooting on Silver on my Motomarine and its little Yellow sub Strobe.,Everything was manual, mùanual focus, no aids, Manual aperture manual speed. The only automatic thing was TTL on the strobe. The first time I put my Motomarine in the water was in the Sudan. By mere chance, I was diving with Fred DeMiglio, the current underwater Photography world Champion (He won it 3 timpes) . He had a look over my kit, straight in focfus on the strobe, Wow that's going to be great for marcro, TTL you must use that, don't chase the fish, let them come to you, so close you could touch them. From my first weeks underwater photography, I actually won a competition, The first prize was a full paid holiday, i won the second prize, a T Shirt. Over 20 years with the same Kit, I learnt what I could take with that little Strobe NOT what I wished for. When the world went Electronic I started Gopro, I needed my light, ended up using up to 5 LEDs, great for video but could not match my little strobe in still photography.So I moved up to TG6 and tack on A Yellow Sub 3 strobe. It's the same as before, same battery compartment, probably the same power. results immediately are Brilliant. Effectively I adapted to what the Strobe can do not vice versa. But with Fibre optics twin strobe is eazy, so I have bought a second strobe. Forget Guide numbers, a second strobe doubles my power. Flying to the Maldives This Saturday to find out.

[@Pyndle]

Thanks for that video. I'm confused though, the Z330s are quite small yet one of the most powerful strobe on the market. What's the downside of buying this even if I do 95% macro? At least I'll be fine for the 5% non macro no?

[@Wetpixel-Live]

Sure-the trick is to make your strobes work for you. I like the Z330s too, but they have T shaped flash tubes that do not produce as pleasing a light as those with circular flash tubes, and the lack of hard edge makes controlling the fall off difficult.

[@Pyndle]

@@Wetpixel-Live Thanks for the reply. Is it really that noticeable? I looked but couldn't find a proper comparison of a subject lit up with Z330 vs Retra Pros