Getting your light right one of the most important keys to successful underwater photography. One of the most interesting ways to create excellent lighting, particularly for macro photos, is to use a ring flash. Suitable for use with either dSLR or compact camera setups, the ring flash isn't difficult to use. Here, we'll go over a few tips for getting the best shots possible with the help of a ring flash.
All About the Ring Flash
Invented by Lester Dine in 1952, the ring flash was first employed for dental photography; later, they became popular with fashion photographers and are still used in the modeling industry today. Providing even illumination and plenty of brilliance, these flashes were later enhanced for underwater use.
Getting the Best Results with a Ring Flash
Ring flashes are useful primarily for macro shots, since they concentrate a large amount of light on a small area. If you're planning to take panoramic shots, with subjects such as schooling fish or a large pelagic creature, you're better off setting up strobes before making your dive since you won't get the light needed for big shots using a ring flash. Now that we know how not to use a ring flash, let's talk a little bit about how to use it to its best advantage.
You can use a ring flash and carry no external strobes when you plan to shoot macro, and one of the first things you will probably notice when your camera is handed to you from the boat is that it is much more streamlined and easier to dive with. Since the ring flash has been designed to connect with your camera's inner workings, you'll also notice that you do not have to worry about setting anything up once you've assembled your camera and housing. The ring flash simply fits on the end of your port, and the light goes where you point your camera. You don't have to work so hard to prevent shadows, but you will still need to follow basic rules for taking successful macro shots - for example, when taking portraits of fish, you still want to get down to or even down below their level for a good picture that portrays your subject properly. In short, if you can focus on a subject and snap a photo, you'll end up with great lighting most of the time.
Another advantage when using a ring flash instead of strobes for macro photography is that you won't typically end up sitting with your photo editing software, clearing out backscatter. This is partly because you're going to be shooting subjects only a few inches from your lens, and it is also because your light is so concentrated. The effect most often seen is a nice dark background, a well-lit foreground, and a beautifully detailed subject. Ring flash photography isn't foolproof, but it does deliver excellent results with just a little care.
Play with your flash options; for example, try using different strobes in conjunction with your ring flash to get different effects. Whether you opt to dive with strobes and a ring flash, or hunt for macro life with a ring flash only, you're bound to find that this piece of equipment is user friendly while delivering great results with only a short learning curve.