5 basic tips to get the best underwater photographs

The ocean is a photographer’s playground. From the rich marine life and captivating movement of the waves, to the deep blue hues and corals — you’ll never run out of things to shoot. However, underwater photography is a completely different style that requires its own equipment and technique. And before you take your camera with you on your next dive, you should ensure that you’re completely comfortable in the water. The better a diver you are, the better underwater photographer you can be as well.

Ready to get started? Here are some tips to get the best underwater photographs!

 

Control your buoyancy

To take clear photos, you need to have steady hands — even as the water keeps moving your body around. Remember that you’re not supposed to use any natural objects (like corals) to stabilise yourself, as it will disturb the wildlife. Mastering buoyancy control is one of the most important skills you’ll need as a diver and underwater photographer. To do this, you’ll need to balance several factors that affect buoyancy. These include weighting, exposure suit, body position, equipment, breathing, as well as some other variables. Here is a full and comprehensive guide to improving your buoyancy control.

Make sure to practice in pools or in a depth that you’re more comfortable in beforehand. The more dives you log, the more natural controlling your buoyancy will become.

 

Get close to your subject

Water affects color, contrast and sharpness, so it’s best to get as close as your subject and camera lens will allow. However, there are proper ways to get close to your subject. For one, marine animals may see you as a threat, so swim slowly and let them get comfortable with you. Do not disrupt the natural ecosystem, and remember that you’re only there to observe and capture the scenery. One great tip is to approach marine life from the front or side. This is because coming from the back might make them think you’re a predator who’s trying to catch them by surprise.

 

Bring the proper equipment

Ultimately, the quality of your underwater photographs will depend largely on your equipment. Not all cameras can perform while submerged in the ocean. As seen from the various underwater cameras on Adorama, these water-friendly gadgets feature 4K UHD video recording and RAW image capture — making them suitable for post-dive color corrections.

For instance, the Canon Rebel SL3 Camera is not only compact, but it has an excellent battery life and can take 1,070 shots per charge. It should be more than enough for a single underwater trip, and you don’t have to worry about it weighing you down. Be sure to also check what other photo equipment, such as strobes and lights, we use for stunning underwater photos.

Photo by Nicolas Cesaroni

 

Play with light and camera settings

You have plenty of room to get creative while you’re shooting underwater. But if you want to work with more natural lighting, it’s best to shoot when the sun is directly overhead. At this time, you will need your strobe only when you’re at about 30 feet. Don’t forget to tweak your settings accordingly as well, as your default camera set-up may not work as favourably underwater. The settings will also depend on the type of camera you’re using. For example, manual mode is best for DSLRs, and auto-shooting is suggested for more compact devices. Here is an overview of the settings for different cameras when shooting macro and wide-angle.

So try to experiment before you hit the water and make sure you do a few check dives so you are comfortable using your camera in its underwater housing.

 

Enhance photos with post-processing

Even though you have used the best settings to capture your images, some may still not turn out as great as you hoped. In such cases, there’s no harm in editing them — whether you want to add filters, adjust the contrast, correct colors, or erase small flaws to improve the quality of your photos. For starters, Adobe Lightroom is a powerful software that’s used mainly for photo enhancement rather than manipulation. Such tools can boost the vibrancy and clarity of your photos, ensuring that every shot is maximized.