Whether you want to enter a photo contest or simply enjoy the fruits of your underwater photography sessions more, you’ll appreciate this collection of photo tips. Even little changes make big differences, so don’t be afraid to incorporate changes slowly – you’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish in just a few practice sessions. Grab your camera and come along!
Get Up Close and Personal.
In the water, color, contrast, and details are lost because water molecules are so much thicker than air molecules are. Taking close-ups ensures you’ll get better results.
Use Wide-Angle Lenses Appropriately.
Wide-angle lenses are designed to allow you to capture a large area from a short distance. The wider the lens, the better your scenic shots will turn out!
Know When to Use Macro Lenses.
A macro lens or the macro function on your camera will allow you to capture colorful, detailed images from a short distance away. Practice in order to determine just how close you ought to get to your subjects and remember to be careful when photographing marine animals that could bite or sting you.
Perfect your Buoyancy Control.
Mastering basic diving skills and perfecting your buoyancy control will allow you to remain stable and compose good, clear, photos.
Utilize External Light Sources.
Using external light sources such as strobes, accessory lights, and even dive lights can make images more colorful. Shut your lights off if you want silhouettes or lovely blue shots.
Fast Shutter Speed, Small Aperture.
Use a fast shutter speed and a small aperture to prevent excess ambient light from entering your shot.
Shoot from the Front.
Never shoot down on a subject if you can avoid it. Get down to eye level or even a little below for amazing perspective and professional-looking results.
Use Automatic White Balance.
In cases when you’re having trouble maintaining white balance, using automatic white balance will solve your problems.
Try Using Ambient Light in the Shallows.
In very shallow water, using ambient light can give you some lovely, natural looking results. Give it a try sometime!
Practice Focusing.
Cameras work differently underwater than they do topside. Practice focusing to ensure you get clear, attractive results each time you take a shot.
Set Shutter Speed Appropriately.
Set your camera’s shutter speed according to the speed of the subject at hand. Slow shutter speeds such as 1/30s and 1/60s work well for still shots, while higher speeds such as 1/250s and 1/500s allow you to capture moving subjects with clarity.
Don’t be Above Post Processing.
If you don’t use photo editing software, you could be missing out! Using post processing can help you improve contrast, remove backscatter, and much more.
Use Known Principles of Photography to Achieve Superior Results.
Learn and use tried and true rules for photography, such as leading lines, sunny 16, and the rule of thirds to create pleasing compositions.
Compose Shots Carefully.
Compose every shot you take with care. While this does take some time at first, you’ll eventually learn how to compose shots quickly, and all your photos will look fantastic.
Avoid Oversaturation.
Avoid oversaturation of photographs. Increase saturation no higher than 15% for natural-looking images.
Use Accessories Properly.
Use accessories, but use them wisely. Knowing the advantages and limiting factors of each accessory you use will ensure you get pleasing results.
Experiment with Strobe Position.
By moving your strobes, you’ll adjust the lighting angle. This can help you to reduce backscatter, create dramatic shadows, and make your subjects look even more fascinating to viewers.
Read Manuals.
Sure, reading the manuals that come with your camera and accessories can be boring, but learning all you can about your underwater photography equipment will help you to become a better photographer.
Find Your Camera’s Sweet Spot.
Every camera and every lens has what photographers refer to as a “sweet spot.” Essentially, this is the setting that works best for that particular piece of equipment. Find out what your sweet spots are and use them as much as possible!
Give Your Subject Nose Room.
Give your subject some “nose room.” Make your subject look like it’s traveling from one point to another within the photo, even if it’s actually going nowhere at all! You can do this by using a slight angle, or shooting so that the subject is coming from one side of the image toward the other. This adds tons of interest to shots.
Compose Shots with an Eye toward Color.
Colors can complement one another wonderfully, whether they contrast or work together in harmony. Give careful thought to the use of color within your images, and your results will be much more pleasing.
Use Desiccant to Prevent Fogging
Desiccant packets prevent the fog that can completely ruin underwater photographs. Purchase these inexpensive goodies and use them as recommended – you’ll be glad you did.
Experiment, then Experiment Some More.
Don’t be afraid to experiment – after all, that’s half the fun of taking photographs. Use various features on your camera to capture interesting images in black and white, sepia, and chrome, and play with accessories such as filters and fish-eye lenses to expand your horizons. The more you play with your camera, the better your images will turn out.
Avoid the Digital Zoom Feature
While there are some situations in which digital zoom can help you to achieve superior results, they are few and far between. Do experiment, but recognize that your camera’s limitations are going to be different underwater than they are topside.
Clean and Maintain Equipment Regularly.
Clean your camera and housing after every single dive, and be sure to inspect the housing for leaks, too. In addition, ensure you have your equipment professionally serviced as recommended by the manufacturer. Not only will doing this extend your camera’s life, it will help you to get good photos you’ll be happy to share with others.
Ultimately, practice makes perfect. The more you take photos, both topside and beneath the surface, the better your skills will become. If you’re a complete novice, consider taking one of the many underwater photography classes available. You’ll rapidly gain confidence and skill, and you’ll enjoy taking photos more than ever.