Starting your journey

Underwater Photography is great fun but can be tricky to master. There are far more challenges when taking photos under the water, such as lighting or making movements and adjustments.  Fortunately there are some great basics to learn that can get you up to speed quickly and improve your shots. With just some new techniques you can be taking professional photos at great depths in less than a month!

 Our top tips

1.Get close to your subject

To get the best images and optimal details of any marine life it is important to get as close as possible without distressing the animal. The less backdrop you have the better!

2.Use a light!

Light is absorbed quickly underwater and the deeper you go the less light you will have.  Certain colors absorb faster than others so without good lights the colors on your photos will not ‘pop'. Use a flash or a focus light on your housing to get perfect color, contrast and sharpness.

3.Get Low!

A great trick to remember is to shoot at an upward angle. Fill your frame with the subject and see amazing results.

4.Pay attention to details.

When taking your shots remember to focus your attention on the subject’s eyes. Their eyes should be in focus. Of course don’t harass or scare the animal.

5.Dive

The best photographers are those that have optimized their general diving skills.  They have great buoyancy and can adjust their cameras quickly and efficiently.  

6.Practice above the water

Try practicing on land with your camera in the housing.  Take close up shots of animals and plants. This will help you understand your camera better and improve your ability to make adjustments to it as you see fit.

7.Avoid backscatter

Backscatter is when particles in the water blur the image of the subject. The best way to avoid this is to shine an external light away from your camera housing.

8.Camera settings

Set your camera to the highest resolution and the lowest ISO.

9.Natural light

If you are shooting in less than 20ft of water make sure the sun position is behind you. This way you can use the natural light to brighten up your images.

10.Focus

Learn to use the focus mode on your camera effectively so that you can focus quicker.

11.Sharpness

If your photos don’t look sharp enough check the settings on your camera. The shutter speed should be 1/30th for still objects and 1/60th for slow moving subjects and 1/25th for fast moving marine life.

12.After taking the photos

Photos can be further edited above the water using post – processing. Make sure you learn how to increase contrast and light without over using it!

Taking a course with us

If you are looking for a course to further optimize your skills then check out our photography courses. Learn from our best photographers more skills and tricks to create real works of art. At Blue Ocean we are here to help.  Perfect your diving skills and learn to take great photos of marine life without disturbing them.