10 Underwater Photography Techniques You Can Try

Since it's summertime in Canada, you can take this excellent opportunity to delve into exciting adventures. But aside from swimming, surfing, or any great water sport, you can also use the time to improve your photography skills. You don't need to be an expert photographer to capture picture-perfect shots. As long as you have the passion and you are a photography enthusiast, you can follow some guidelines to create interesting and appealing photos underwater.

Underwater Photography Guide

Probably, you have seen amazing pictures of the breathtaking scenes underwater. From different species of fishes to colourful corals, you'll find plenty of them on the internet. Some of these are taken by expert photographers, people who are divers as well. They might have used high-end equipment to make those fascinating photos. But some of them might be using action cameras or other devices aside from DSLRs.

If you want to improve your photography skills, especially when taking pictures underwater, you may refer to the following guide:

#1 Stabilize your camera.

It is essential to hold your camera still to avoid shaky movements. In this way, you can stabilize the pictures and refrain from getting blurred photos. To do this, you can hold the camera closer to your body. If you find it challenging to achieve it, you may have camera accessories designed to stabilize the images. You may use a tripod or a gimbal for an action camera.

#2 Avoid using flash when shooting three to four feet away from the subject.

One of the best things about underwater photography is the colourful scenes you can find. If you want to feature coral landscape and achieve better colours for your underwater photos, make sure not to use flash. Do this when you are three to four feet away. You may consider changing the white balance into an auto mode so that you attain high-quality pictures.

#3 Get a variety of shots.

You must achieve a variety of shots before finishing your shoot. Make sure that you have used different angles and perspectives. Thus, you can have more creative images that you can turn into better pictures in the editing process. 

#4 Give your subject room to move.

If the subject is in motion, make sure to capture it while giving it a room to move. For instance, if a fish is moving to the left, leave a space on the left. Make it look like the subject is going somewhere. Doing so adds curiosity to the audience, making them ask themselves where the fish is going.

#5 Look for inspiration.

The internet is full of amazing underwater photos. You can find what inspires you the most. Then try to imitate until you perfect the shot. It is not wrong to imitate as long as you know how to innovate. Besides, many creative people start with inspirations.

#6 Understand the focusing distance.

When taking pictures underwater, you may consider macro photography. Thus, you will be using a camera that has a significant focus to capture the essential details. Whether you want to feature the unique fish's pattern or the corals' texture, you need to understand the focusing distance of the camera.

#7 Use the right accessories.

In underwater photography, you need to wear the necessary diving gear. You need a diving suit that will protect your skin and an oxygen tank to keep you breathing underwater. Aside from that, you have to consider the camera accessories that will help you take appealing photos. For instance, you need a dive light to help the camera with auto-focus.

#8 Shoot as many pictures as you like.

There are lots of high capacity memory cards that you can buy in the market. Use these when shooting underwater. Doing so allows you to take as many pictures as you can without worrying about storage. Take as many photos as you can. Who knows, you can get the best shot from the trials you have made. Besides, you can quickly delete unwanted shots in post-production.

#9 Shoot in raw mode.

It is ideal for shooting in raw mode since you can edit the scenes in post-production. It allows you to play with the settings, giving you a chance to find the right themes for the shots. Aside from that, take pictures in landscape mode. Since you are featuring underwater scenes, they will look much better in landscapes than in portrait mode.

#10 Shoot with strobes.

If you find an underwater scene with a fascinating subject but lacks colour, you can shoot with strobes. Try to block the ambient light by using fast shutter speed. Get closer to the subject and ensure that the settings do not allow too much ambient light.

Many underwater photographers started from scratch. Meaning, they invest in camera equipment, find inspiration, and practise regularly to become professionals in their field. You, too, can be an expert in no time. Follow the guide above and be more creative when shooting underwater.

Like any other genre, underwater photography is also challenging. But it becomes more comfortable if you practice several times until you become more skillful in your field. Besides, there are many tips that you can follow for you to become an expert photographer. As long as you are eager to learn, and you are passionate about what you do, you can be one of the best photographers in town.