Underwater pics
Discussion
Scuba or snorkelling?
I've not done any underwater photography (and very little diving), but one tip, especially true when scuba diving, has always stuck in my mind from a lecture by a pro diving photographer we had at college: remember that you are diving first, photographing second. Don't even think of taking a camera scuba diving until you are happy that you know what you are doing underwater without one.
I've not done any underwater photography (and very little diving), but one tip, especially true when scuba diving, has always stuck in my mind from a lecture by a pro diving photographer we had at college: remember that you are diving first, photographing second. Don't even think of taking a camera scuba diving until you are happy that you know what you are doing underwater without one.
tog said:
Scuba or snorkelling?
I've not done any underwater photography (and very little diving), but one tip, especially true when scuba diving, has always stuck in my mind from a lecture by a pro diving photographer we had at college: remember that you are diving first, photographing second. Don't even think of taking a camera scuba diving until you are happy that you know what you are doing underwater without one.
That is a good point - as a diving instructor and dive guide I had to chase many people almost getting lost just to get that one more shot I've not done any underwater photography (and very little diving), but one tip, especially true when scuba diving, has always stuck in my mind from a lecture by a pro diving photographer we had at college: remember that you are diving first, photographing second. Don't even think of taking a camera scuba diving until you are happy that you know what you are doing underwater without one.
It's easy to get distracted playing with your camera.
As for taking pictures - mainly keep your eyes open to spot things in a first place and be ready, always ready. Marine life dissapears very quickly.
I wasn't using any sophisticated camera underwater but that's one of my favourites:
Edited by rottie102 on Monday 21st June 22:48
If you do try diving, just remember that the light falls off very quickly as you descend, and the red part of the spectrum gets filtered out first, leaving you with blue tinted photographs unless you use flash or a correcting filter.
For snorkelling nearer the surface this shouldn't be a problem.
For snorkelling nearer the surface this shouldn't be a problem.
Right, this is my bag 
With a little compact camera like yours the flash is pretty much useless beyond about 2-3ft, depending on the viz. So concentrate on macro or medium format shots (ie fishy/coral pics). For wide angle it will be next to uselss with the flash, so you're better off turning the flash off and doing natural light shots. They will come out blue of course, unless you're very near the surface, but you can tweak some colour back into them with Photoshop or similar.
The trick is to get as little water between you and the subject as possible. So, if you see a nice little nuribranch or some other random critter, sitting 3ft away from the subject, zooming in and taking a photo ain't gonna work. You need to be no more than 8-12 inches away, less if it's something that doesn't zip around at full speed, so your flash will work as effectively as possible. Remember that there is a small delay between pressing the shutter and the picture actually being taken, so keep the camera as still as possible. Pictures of such things as darting clownfish are next to impossible to take with a compact SLR, so you'd have to be very lucky with that one!
Try not to stir the sand up! If there are particles suspended in the water you'll get what's know as backscatter, and the image will just have snow-like splodges all over it. I've found a perfect example of this on the web (click for larger version):
If you're going to take wide angle shots my advice is to have the sun behind you and not in front of you as I personally would do, as your camera's just going to wash the image out. Also, try and get slightly below the subject and take the picture up at a slight angle. 5-10 degrees, not 50!
Be patient! If you see something that you want to take a piccie of, if it is mobile (ie a fish) then relax in the vicinity and let the fish become comfortable with your presence (though some may well just swim away!). Breath slow and relaxed, don't blast your bubbles out when you exhale. Move slowly closer to the subject until you get into the right position. Take lots of pictures of the same subject! You may think you're happy with the first result, but you could well get a better picture. I will often take 20-30 pictures of the same thing in the hope that the next one will be better than the last.
We've discussed one other fundamental thing about u/w photography on here before. If you're going to take a picture of someone, don't take a picture of their fins and backside, it's pointless.
What looks better, this:
or this:
Of course it's the latter, I took it!
But regardless of that, it's from the front and not the back.
Get your buddy to turn round don't just randomly snap their bum,, pert as it may be! Also, take the shot with them either vertically in the water facing you or horizontally from the side. Don't take a shot of them horizontally in thw water from the front, they'll just look like a blob.
Just remember the limitations of your camera. Photograph close, be patient, and err... don't over grease your ring
With a little compact camera like yours the flash is pretty much useless beyond about 2-3ft, depending on the viz. So concentrate on macro or medium format shots (ie fishy/coral pics). For wide angle it will be next to uselss with the flash, so you're better off turning the flash off and doing natural light shots. They will come out blue of course, unless you're very near the surface, but you can tweak some colour back into them with Photoshop or similar.
The trick is to get as little water between you and the subject as possible. So, if you see a nice little nuribranch or some other random critter, sitting 3ft away from the subject, zooming in and taking a photo ain't gonna work. You need to be no more than 8-12 inches away, less if it's something that doesn't zip around at full speed, so your flash will work as effectively as possible. Remember that there is a small delay between pressing the shutter and the picture actually being taken, so keep the camera as still as possible. Pictures of such things as darting clownfish are next to impossible to take with a compact SLR, so you'd have to be very lucky with that one!
Try not to stir the sand up! If there are particles suspended in the water you'll get what's know as backscatter, and the image will just have snow-like splodges all over it. I've found a perfect example of this on the web (click for larger version):
If you're going to take wide angle shots my advice is to have the sun behind you and not in front of you as I personally would do, as your camera's just going to wash the image out. Also, try and get slightly below the subject and take the picture up at a slight angle. 5-10 degrees, not 50!
Be patient! If you see something that you want to take a piccie of, if it is mobile (ie a fish) then relax in the vicinity and let the fish become comfortable with your presence (though some may well just swim away!). Breath slow and relaxed, don't blast your bubbles out when you exhale. Move slowly closer to the subject until you get into the right position. Take lots of pictures of the same subject! You may think you're happy with the first result, but you could well get a better picture. I will often take 20-30 pictures of the same thing in the hope that the next one will be better than the last.
We've discussed one other fundamental thing about u/w photography on here before. If you're going to take a picture of someone, don't take a picture of their fins and backside, it's pointless.
What looks better, this:
or this:
Of course it's the latter, I took it!
But regardless of that, it's from the front and not the back.
Get your buddy to turn round don't just randomly snap their bum,, pert as it may be! Also, take the shot with them either vertically in the water facing you or horizontally from the side. Don't take a shot of them horizontally in thw water from the front, they'll just look like a blob.
Just remember the limitations of your camera. Photograph close, be patient, and err... don't over grease your ring
Fezant Pluckah said:
Is that your wife's finger in its mouth?
:-) Just something she was holding whilst it was attracted to her finger. Actually we were snorkeling with a crowd and the cheeky blighter bit a few. Unfortuneatley holiday makers go out on the snorkle trips there and feed the turtles which then makes the turtles think that you are only there to feed themAh, one of the hazards of feeding dem fishies, you see. After a while they associate humans with being fed, and when a human turns up with no food, they get feisty and eat the human instead. (In this case it weas a nip on the finger by a toitle, but it could have been summat else with big fins and sharp teeth 
Fezant Pluckah said:
Ah, one of the hazards of feeding dem fishies, you see.
Titan Trigger Fish at the wrong time of the month - Ouch! (and that's not a personal experience, I've always kept well clear, just the stories you hear from people stupid enough to go and feed/disturb them!).Know what you're getting into!
K12beano said:
Fezant Pluckah said:
Ah, one of the hazards of feeding dem fishies, you see.
Titan Trigger Fish at the wrong time of the month - Ouch! (and that's not a personal experience, I've always kept well clear, just the stories you hear from people stupid enough to go and feed/disturb them!).Know what you're getting into!
Not the slightest bit interested in me cos it wasn't nesting season. If it HAD been nesting season I'd have been at the other end of the reef with my recently patented Titan Triggerfish Deathray Gun
Fezant Pluckah said:
Not the slightest bit interested in me cos it wasn't nesting season. If it HAD been nesting season I'd have been at the other end of the reef with my recently patented Titan Triggerfish Deathray Gun
Now that's a cracking photo, where was you when you took the photograph?As a few people have said lighting is the biggest issue. I use a Sony Cybershot for underwater shots and a problem with the built in flash is that any sediment between the camera and the subject tends to be reflected back by the flash, hence why most underwater photographers use off camera flashes. As an alternative if you can get a red filter these are great at adding colour back in, but don't use it if you're in shall water as everything will look red. Best bet is a bit of trial and error. Often I'll take shots with an without the filter and review the after the dive.
Also as much as possible take advantage of natural light.
Finally when I did my advanced Padi I did the photography module which was really good. But I may of just been lucky with a very good instructor.
Good luck and enjoy the dives, where are you going?
Also as much as possible take advantage of natural light.
Finally when I did my advanced Padi I did the photography module which was really good. But I may of just been lucky with a very good instructor.
Good luck and enjoy the dives, where are you going?
Picking up a Cat that we've chartered in St Lucia on Sunday then sailing (slowly) to Mustique via wherever the fancy takes us and then a week in the villa there.
Palm Island is a must but theres loads of places to potter about so should be a relaxing trip. Only downside is we'll miss the England Germany game on Sunday. Oh well can't have everything
worty
Palm Island is a must but theres loads of places to potter about so should be a relaxing trip. Only downside is we'll miss the England Germany game on Sunday. Oh well can't have everything
worty
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