Not so long ago, underwater photography was viewed as an intriguing profession, or at the very least, a captivating hobby very few divers could participate in. Now that underwater cameras are more affordable than ever, many of us are taking the opportunity to capture the incredible sights we see underwater. What better way to preserve memories? Unfortunately, there are several common mistakes that can happen when taking underwater photos; these happen mostly because water is hundreds of times thicker than air, and because it eventually absorbs all colors but blue. These factors, along with others, contribute to photos that are blurry, washed out, and not at all like we want them to be. We’ve compiled this list of ten common underwater photography mistakes with these things in mind, and we’ve also come up with some practical advice for avoiding them.
Not Relaxing
If you feel tense while taking photos, you are making what’s probably the most common underwater photography mistake! Failure to relax prevents you from being your most creative, and it also prevents you from enjoying yourself fully. Work toward being in total harmony with the environment around you, and you’ll find that you get better results and much more pleasure from taking photos underwater.
Backscatter
One of the most annoying problems you’ll ever face is backscatter. Depending on where you are diving, the water column could be completely filled with particulate matter that catches the light from your flash and strobes. These little bits of marine debris show up as white particles in your photos, sometimes completely ruining what might have been the best shot of your life. To eliminate backscatter, position your strobe away from your camera and work on angling additional light sources so they light particles from the side rather than from the front. While this won’t work in all situations, it can help. Investing in some good photo editing software can also help, since there are some times when even the most careful lighting won’t eliminate backscatter completely.
The Blue Hue
Water absorbs all colors other than blue, with reds, oranges, and yellows being among the first colors to go. While blue tones are desirable in some cases, there are other times when you’ll want to capture all the colors the underwater world has to offer. Using a full-spectrum light source and capturing images at close range will help prevent color loss. Certain filters can also help; while these are not available for every camera or housing, they can really make colors pop in some cases. Practice makes perfect!
Lack of Color, Contrast, and Detail
Color, contrast, and detail combine to make photos interesting. Without them, images are blurry at worst, boring at best. In order to get the best possible color, contrast, and detail, do all you can to ensure you are shedding as much light as possible on your subject, and work to take photos from close range. When photographing small marine life and other small subjects such as a shipwreck detail, you can use a macro lens to enhance sharpness and really make your images pop. You can also use digital post-processing software to increase sharpness, enhance contrast, and create spectacular dynamics within your photos.
Overuse of Automatic Features
Sometimes, automatic is the only way to go. Other times, using the automatic features on your camera delivers results that are just so-so. Learning how to use your camera’s manual functions can help you to create amazing images that allow for challenges associated with the conditions and environment you’re shooting in. Learn how to use your camera’s manual functions topside before trying to do so underwater. Depending on the type of housing you have, you may even have to set up the manual mode you’ll be shooting in before your dive. There are definitely pros and cons to both automatic shooting and manual shooting modes, so weigh the consequences to ensure you get the desired outcome.
Distracting Composition
In photography, composition counts. Often, beginning photographers do not pay attention to anything other than the subject at hand, losing harmony and incorporating distracting elements in the process. By eliminating excess clutter from the background, you can take your photos to the next level. In addition, learning basic photo composition rules, such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, and sunny 16 can help you create better images.
Centering the Subject
You might think it’s important to center your subject in a photo, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! While this strategy might work in some situations, it can make even the most stunning subjects look a little ordinary and uninteresting. Try positioning your camera so the subject is off center, and if photographing an animal, fish, or another diver, allow for “nose room.” Make your subject look like it’s going somewhere, and you’ll add tons of interest to your images.
Looking Down on the Subject
There are some times when you can’t avoid taking a picture from overhead, but in many cases, it’s fairly easy to reposition yourself to allow for a much more captivating angle. Take photos from in front of and slightly beneath your subjects as often as you can. You’ll be amazed at how much more visually appealing the resulting images are.
Incorrect Exposure
Incorrect exposure can cause photos to look terrible – even when composition is perfect! Some problems associated with incorrect exposure include images that are much too dark, images without adequate detail, and images with excess “noise.” Try to maintain a balance between your camera’s shutter speed, aperture, and ISO number. Avoid using an extremely small aperture, and be sure your shutter speed is fast enough to allow plenty of light into the camera. If you are using high shutter speed, then you will need to increase your aperture and ISO sensitivity to compensate.
The final mistake underwater photographers make is not taking a class. Even a short workshop can dramatically improve your ability to take underwater photos you’ll be proud to show off. So sign up for an underwater photography course and be sure to practice, practice, practice! When you do this, you’ll be amazed at what you will ultimately accomplish in just a very short amount of time.