Underwater photography is a fantastic creative outlet if you want to capture pictures professionally and have fun in the water.
One thing which seems lovely is the movement of the water; another is the underwater world with marine life, coral reefs, or swimming creature to concentrate on to improve the photographs.
These suggestions are for you if you’ve got a waterproof camera and are travelling to a tropical location for a vacation.
They are also for those curious about trying out underwater photography in the hopes of honing their skills.
Underwater Photography: Tricks and Tips
The following 15 easy steps will assist you at the beginning of underwater photography.
Although the first one might seem obvious, don’t ignore it because of the mistaken belief that everything will be OK once you get into the water. Being organized and knowledgeable about your actions in the water pays off.
1. Best Underwater Camera
It’s up to you which one you select. Check if your camera and lens are compatible with an underwater housing when you intend to use the one you already own.
I might advise beginner photographers to purchase a point-and-shoot camera or an action camera like a GoPro.
My top recommendation is to do your homework and make a good investment based on your experience level when thinking about beginning fresh with such a brand-new camera and lens.
See More – When Was the Camera Invented: A Complete Guide 2022
2. Control the Water
Make sure you have mastered your level of diving or snorkelling before picking up a camera. Develop your skills and experience by working with a qualified instructor, mentor, and dive buddy.
Spend some time so that when you’re ready to put your equipment into the water, you may concentrate on the photos and not drown.
3. Improve Lighting and Camera Setting
Sunlight will brighten the pictures and make everyone in them look more natural. Indeed the water is dense and dark. Keep close to the surface so that the light can illuminate your subject.
To get things going, I’ve included my attempted settings.
These might not function in all settings, so experiment from such a beginning point to determine what functions work best for you. To maintain the blue hues lovely and well, blue, White Balance – Daylight Mode, as well as Auto, usually works best underwater.
The orange or pink hues can be produced by using cloudy, or even the majority of other modes can completely alter the mood of your aquatic image.
ISO: Try to maintain the ISO as low as possible to prevent noise from showing up in the pictures. An ISO equal to 100 to 200 will perform quite well when there is enough sunlight; if it’s dark, clouded, and deeper, raise your ISO if necessary.
Whether you’re working with a small digital camera, the higher your ISO, the noisier your picture will be. You should have no trouble increasing the ISO to 1600 once the DSLR is situated in an underwater housing.
Aperture – If you shoot using your aperture setting from f/8 to f/16, the image will be extremely sharp both above and below the water. To get crisp, clear pictures of split-level landscapes, you typically have to increase the ISO up roughly 1000 while maintaining your camera’s f/16 setting.
If you concentrate just above the water’s surface, you’ll see the water level blurred, therefore, lowering your aperture as deep as it can go, between f/2.8 and f/6, would be the best option.
Focus: If the camera has a single subject configuration, keep it there so you can press the shutter halfway down when taking the photo to concentrate on your buddy or the fish.
4. Capture in black and white
Even though the ocean is teeming with colourful and vibrant creatures, try shooting in black & white. Black & white or monochromatic photographs are the best for highlighting the huge contrast that can be observed in underwater scenes.
5. Observe Bubbles
In underwater photography, air bubbles could be challenging and intriguing. They may be a distraction in a photograph of marine life, or their appearance in the distance may provide drama or interest.
The secret is to be conscious of them as well as make an effort to take full advantage of them.
6. Recognize your Situation
Make sure you’ve researched and are aware of the local climate & water pressures. Recognize the main contrasts between an encounter at the sea’s surface and one at its depths.
7. Take your time
Avoid chasing behind the subject unless it is something similar to a frogfish that can swim faster than you. Those who insist on running after turtles at high speeds never amaze me. Trust me, you can’t stop one, or at worst, you’ll get such a picture of its back fading into the distance.
When your topic seems uneasy or jittery, pursue it carefully. Don’t be scared to take a brief break. If you are patient, you can go very near to certain animals, including turtles, stingrays, and many others.
I usually aim to approach animals head-on because they will be more cooperative if they notice you approaching.
8. Be attentive
Now, as your camera is ready, you will be on the dive & ready to take pictures. Since I first began photographing underwater pictures, one of the best bits of advice I ever got was to approach close towards my subject.
I was instructed to get near and move even nearer since, when you initially start, everything you think is near is almost always too far away. You do not want the subject fish to appear as a microscopic spec inside the center of your picture.
You could use the zoom on some cameras, but not all lenses will provide the best zoom effect. For example, I’ve observed people with small digital cameras zoom into it to fill the entire screen with the subject even because they’re a good 4 or 5 meters away, making it difficult for their strobes to light the photo adequately.
Once the frame is as wide as it can be, try to fill it by entering slowly and carefully. While shooting wide-angle, I usually use a 16mm lens, although zoom. It’s astounding how near you would have to be to obtain a good shot.
So keep repeating to yourself, “Get close, and just get closer.“
9. Try your shot!
I’ve witnessed many underwater photographers eagerly grab their camera housing from the camera bench and afterwards take a great step off the boat in preparation for taking incredible pictures, to discover after they are really on the dive because they forgot to take off their lens cap!
I perform a test shot and any strobes I have on setup to ensure that everything is functioning after thoroughly preparing my camera & housing.
It is much preferable to find the lens cap remaining in place. When sitting in the room, you could fix problems like the camera batteries being almost flat or even the strobes needing batteries, as opposed to being underwater, in which all you may do is complain.
10. Grab just a few strobes
The installed flash on the majority of cameras is virtually useless underwater. First, the flash is too low to highlight something submerged, and two, the flash itself would illuminate all of the water particles & cause light scattering, ruining the picture. That is why you need one or two additional strobes.
Similarly to cameras & housings, the cost of strobes has significantly decreased. The use of additional strobes has many advantages.
You may reduce that evil light scattering by carefully situating them when installed on arms that keep them a good distance from the lens. Strobe lights also produce a lot stronger flash, enabling you to highlight your subjects very effectively.
Additionally, you can reposition them as needed for particular shots because they are mounted on movable arms.
11. Look for Creatures
If you have a subject beneath the water, you will discover how and where to plan your shots to catch every photo. Ask a relative to swim while you experiment with camera settings & snap numerous pictures. This could take several attempts before you get the perfect shot.
It could be simpler to let your topic go under first before following. It is a matter of figuring out when it works to your advantage to catch this because the greatest shot is typically taken after they are floating to the top again.
Only do it if you feel comfortable underwater. If you can hold your breath, remaining underwater for longer would enable you to take more pictures.
Try to pick a beach with rocks and marine life that you can concentrate on if you want to float about and see what you can find. If you can swim quickly enough to capture them, the fishes will let anyone snap as many pictures as you like.
12. Enjoy the journey
Get the most out of every experience when familiar with the genre and possess the required diving abilities. You’re taking part in a style of photography that most of us will never experience firsthand.
You’ll see more engaging compositions & subjects if you take time and observe everything available. To get a good shot, observe how marine life interacts, including its surroundings & try to predict its behaviour.
13. Jump In
The obvious but crucial first step to photographing underwater images would be to feel at ease in the water. Your attention will be drawn away from holding your breath and thinking about the size of the waves, the more familiar you get with the underwater environment.
The more familiar you become with swimming, snorkelling, or even just tides, rips, and wave patterns, the nicer your photos will turn out.
To ensure your safety as well as to assist you in generating photo chances, it is worthwhile to make an effort to research the place you would be photography in.
14. Never be scared to use technology
Many shots need some altering after being downloaded; however, some underwater photographers can shoot incredible images that appear fantastic when taken directly from the camera.
A variety of computer programs are available that you may use to provide your photographs with a very little boost. Therefore, practice is necessary if you wish to master this software. And also, don’t think of yourself as “cheating.”
15. Getting better through practice
With your diving equipment on, spend some time setting up your equipment and practising all the necessary operations. Use your equipment while wearing masks, such as turning it on, adjusting settings, controlling lighting, or composing photos.
Perform each step repeatedly while wearing a blindfold if you truly wish to get it down so you do not have to check on the camera when using it.
Also Read – Best Camera for YouTube
Final Words
I admire your commitment and courage in taking part in underwater photography. As I already stated, relatively few people get to encounter this genre.
I sincerely hope that such a piece of advice on underwater photography has been helpful to everyone. You may soon start taking breathtaking underwater photos if you have all the necessary abilities, tools, and expertise.
Frequently asked questions ( FAQs )
Ques1. Should I use a DSLR while diving?
Ans. Sure, but rather to preserve it, you’ll have to purchase a specific underwater housing. One benefit of an underwater housing is that you can continue using your current camera & lenses without purchasing a new camera system.
Ques2. Is it risk-free to take photos underwater?
Ans. Consider safety first while photographing underwater because there are significant risks. Invest in quality diving instruction and gear.
When dealing with clients for underwater photography, keep their safety in mind too. Plan carefully and ensure you have help available in case anything bad happens.
Ques3. How can you begin taking photos underwater?
Ans. Consider purchasing some fundamental tools and getting some practice in deep water. To feel at ease underwater, try out different settings or shooting styles. Do some homework and educate yourself on safety procedures & requirements regarding deeper diving.
Last Updated on December 11, 2022 by Apeksha Soni
