8 Basic Principles Of Underwater Photography

After being immersed in this community for a while now, I think it's time that I spread a little knowledge about how I’ve managed to create the underwater images I have. I can drone on and on about all the technical aspects of diving and creating images but I want to keep this fun and light. So let's dive in shall we.

It’s one thing to snap a picture, but another to take a photograph. The basic rules photography come into play weather your shooting above or below the waterline. Photographing marine life requires a varied and diverse skill set. These basic principles will hopefully aid you in creating more interesting and eye catching images.

The first step to understanding any kind of photography is get to know your gear, all your gear. I cannot stress enough if this is your first time taking a camera underwater or using a camera, read the camera’s manual as well as any other manuals you might have. The information found inside is very important, despite what you might think.

Over the years, I’ve dove with a lot of different people, some of which were seasoned veterans when it came to land photography. Do yourself a favour and be a good diver first before complicating your life by adding a camera on a dive. Taking the time to hone your diving skills will only make you more comfortable and proficient in the water and is truly the key to being a successful underwater image maker.

Hone your dive skills, have good buoyancy and be trim in the water.

Ok, on to the good stuff.

No. 1 - Ask yourself, what do I want?
If it’s your first time with a camera, most divers will blindly click way at everything until they have to come up or their memory cards are full. However once you review your images they may not be up to your expectations. Choose your subject, start by shooting one specific species or scene underwater. Practice on the easy stuff first. Like a starfish - they don’t move all that fast! Once you graduate from starfish then educate yourself on the species that you want to shoot, Learn about its behaviours, best time to see the subject etc., then talk to locals, research it on the web, grab a book. The more you take the time to learn about your subject the better your images will be.

No. 2 - Wait for it...Wait for it…
Have patience and always be prepared. Underwater photography is challenging. To be success as an underwater photographer, you need to have lot of patience. Remember, these aren’t models you can pose or talk to. You need to move around them, this is where the dive skills come in. Also not every dive will have the perfect conditions and the subjects behaviour may not be what you wanted or expected, Don’t get discouraged. Sometimes the best captures are the ones you never expected.

No. 3 - Closer, closer, and even closer (A little tech talk now)
Due to light refraction everything underwear is appears 33% bigger and closer than it actually is. Get close, real close. Water absorbs light very quickly, and as you descend light and colours dissipate rapidly. This is because light reflects off of the surface, scatters off particles in the water and the water absorbs it directly. Unfortunately for underwater photographers this process doesn't happen uniformly which causes images to be filled with backscatter or have a dull colouration to them. Reducing the amount of water between the camera and the subject by moving closer will help produce a sharper, and more colorful image. Additionally, limiting the distance between you and your subject will help reduce amount of particles in the water hence reducing the amount of backscatter. If your like me who spends most of his time shooting in the in the Pacific Northwest this is even more important.

Thats a lot of stuff in the water.

No. 4 - Look Up, Shoot Up
Generally speaking shooting at an upward angle usually can create a better image more eye catching image. Getting below your subject and shooting at an upward angle will help in creating a more colourful, contrasty image. Shooting up also allows for more light which can really help with exposures. If you can’t shoot up or don’t want to shooting downward angles can be more difficult to expose, but can create some very dramatic, impactful images if done right.

No. 5 - Shoot, Review, Adjust
As someone who has worked as a server and bartender when I’m not underwater, something I learned years ago was "write, recite, review." In photography this can be adjusted slightly to "shoot, review, adjust." You have an LCD screen, use it! Set up, take a shot, review it. If you like it continue on, if not, adjust. Remember don’t just adjust your camera setting, but your body as well. Always think about what your shooting and where you are.

No. 6 - Let there be Light
Yes we want to shoot up to get more light but maybe we need more. Time to add strobes. Since water absorbs light and sucks the colour out of images, the use of strobes is immensely important. Adding light restores colour, create contrast, and help retain image sharpness.

This is my underwater set up. Dome port for wide angle images, duel strobes and a focus light.

No. 7 - I got this
Cameras have setting, usually represented by a dial on the top of the camera. If you own an SLR camera you want and have the ability to use all those function. Lets click that button away from AUTO and into MANUAL. To really get the best from your equipment and create striking images, having the ability to control and adjust aperture, shutter speed, auto focus points and ISO will really take your images to the next level.

No. 8 - Take only memories, leave only bubbles
Respecting the ocean and all that live their. Never harass or touch marine life. You may not realize the damage inflicted from even minor touching. Be patient, be a good skilled diver, set the example for those diving with you and those that come after you.

Me with a Giant Pacific Octopus. Always give credit, if your creating images and sharing them, water mark your images and if someone take a picture of you. Make sure they get the credit.

Thanks for reading and if you have any questions please let me know. I’m happy to provide more information if anyone is interested.

Scott

For more stories and images - http://www.scottstevensonphotography.ca/