Photography is one of the most exciting hobbies there can be. No wonder, it is the magical task of capturing in time a unique and unrepeatable moment…
Selfies and group photos with friends and family are not bad for starters, but why shouldn’t you go a little further, and try new things? There’s so much more to discover about photography besides taking photos of delicious food, or goofy faces!
Underwater photography is one of those sublime and almost unknown hobbies, enjoyed by relatively few people. It is an expensive, challenging, fashionable type of photography, which however became more mainstream recently, thanks to waterproof phone cameras. Still, most professional photographers will choose to wear scuba diving gear and an air tank, to take their photos.
In this article, we will discuss the basics of underwater photography such as what equipment you need, how to choose a perfect spot, what to photograph first, and how. Ready? Dive in!
What Equipment is Needed for Underwater Photography?
Underwater photography is generally believed to require much expensive equipment to get the perfect shot.
Cameras come in two different types: compact cameras and DSLRs. Compact cameras are designed to work well in water because they have fewer moving parts than DSLRs. However, they do not produce high quality photos like DSLRs do because their sensors are smaller and less sensitive to light.
DSLRs are good for taking professional-quality photos but they require more maintenance because their components are more sensitive to water damage than compact cameras’ components are.
However, just like we’ve mentioned in the introduction to this article, not everyone who does underwater photography, uses professional cameras. Elena Kalis is famous for her spectacular photographs that have appeared in magazines, websites and exhibitions throughout Asia, Europe and America; and she uses a simple cell phone camera.
How to choose a perfect spot for your Underwater Photography Session?
At first, you don’t necessarily need to go on a trip far away. In fact, it’s better if you don’t, as first, you need to practice capturing underwater pictures at least a little bit. You wouldn’t want to overpay for an afternoon with dolphins, just to realize, you can’t capture a good shot, it would be frustrating!
So, it’s it’s better to leave those trips for later, and start practicing in a simple environment instead, such as your swimming pool. Once you’ve become a little more savvy, you can try taking photos in a stream or pond not too far from your home (make sure though, that it’s safe, and never enter the water, alone!). A trip to the beach is also a good idea, if you’re living close to the seaside. Maybe some of your friends will want to cosplay a character from the Mermaid Princess Amelia fantasy series by Maxine Foti, and be your model?
We highly recommend though, that you first practice with different immovable objects as animals and humans may be very challenging to photograph, and you’ll want to learn everything about angles and light before trying topics that are more difficult.
How to take a really good underwater photo?
The answer isn’t that simple. It does require skill, the photographer needs to be able to work in low-light conditions, understand the composition and how the light affects the image, and also be well-versed in how to use their camera in water.
Here are some tips that you can follow to make sure you’re getting the best results, when taking your underwater photos:
– Use a wide angle lens that has a short focal length and can capture as much light as possible.
– Shoot in RAW format to preserve all the details in your photos and make editing easier later on.
– Use shutter speed priority mode (S) to keep your photos sharp while shooting fast-moving subjects like fish or divers.
Final Thoughts on Undersea Photography
As you can see, underwater photography is a complex field of photography that requires a lot of equipment and knowledge to master. It is not easy to take good underwater photographs. However, once you really invest time and money into this hobby, it can produce stunning results which will definitely enrich your portfolio. Great undersea shots are rare, so perhaps it could become your new niche for commercial photography?
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