Underwater Photography Tips
Getting started underwater can be tricky. In addition to all the usual problems a photographer faces- inadequate light, wildlife that just won’t stay still, and getting the perfect composition- there are other difficulties only encountered underwater. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you take great photos in the water:
-Practice diving without a camera. Smooth movement with a scuba tank on your back only comes with time. If you’re not an experience diver, leave the camera behind until you’re comfortable down there.
- Get used to shooting with a waterproof housing around your camera. A housing will change the way the camera feels and it can take a while to get accustomed to it. Take plenty of photos above water, with the housing on.
- Reduce buoyancy before getting close to marine life. Taking a good picture while floating is tricky. Most divers aim for neutral buoyancy while they’re down, and that means neither going up nor down but just gently moving with the water. To take a picture it’s often better to be steady. Either you can hang on to something (being very careful of corals and other fragile things) or reduce your buoyancy and sit on the bottom. However, doing that is noisy and releases a stream of bubbles that can frighten off your subject, so always get buoyancy adjusted before approaching for a close shot.
- If you’re snorkelling rather than scuba diving, take a buoyancy vest and weight belt to help you get into position.
- In good conditions and shallow water natural light can be all you need, but at other times you will need extra light. Using an external flash can reduce backscatter (light reflecting off particles in the water). Some underwater photography professionals go further and use a pair of strobes aimed close to, but not exactly on, the subject. If you’re not that serious, just using a dive flashlight can help.
- If you can, adjust shutter speeds for moving fish. Dramatic shots with hundreds of fish moving in unison can be gorgeous, but those fish are fast. Shutter speeds of 1/60th or more may be required for a really sharp photo.
- If your photos look washed-out and colorless, either adjust the white balance or trying shooting some close-ups. The less water between you and your subject, the more vivid the colors will be.
- Last but not least, never forget that the ocean is more dangerous than any shark. Stay alert and don’t let the quest for the perfect shot blind you to hazards. No photo is worth getting into trouble underwater.
Jess Spate is a scuba diver, snorkeller, and photographer. She works with Mozaik Underwater Cameras, who supply some of the best underwater cameras, camera housings, and underwater photography accessories.
Images courtesy of Mozaik Underwater Cameras.
Filed Under Digital Photography, photography tips, Underwater Photography | Leave a Comment
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