Just Add Water to Your Photos (Part I)

I have never considered myself to be much of a photographer. Before I started scuba diving, my photography was simple. I would point and shoot, hoping for good family portraits or holiday snaps.

In the old days, you’d take your film to the chemist or camera shop. Then, you’d wait about seven days. After that, you’d pick up your printed photos. Sad to say, most of these are still sitting in a box waiting for that fearful day when I finally dare to throw them away.

When I started going on tropical holidays, that all changed. I started to take it a bit more seriously.

This is the first of two stories about my underwater photography. It focuses on shallow diving/snorkelling at depths of less than 5 meters (15 feet).

The second story is about my time in deep water. You can only reach it with scuba gear. It’s more than 10 meters, or 30 feet, deep. Both are great environments. Both stories are pictorials rather than detailed dialogue.

I started diving about thirty years ago. I was spurred on to dive after my first trip to the Maldives. I had bought a lightweight housing for an existing Canon camera and done a lot of snorkelling. The waters were so clear, and the coral reefs teemed with life.

I spent hours shooting. Storage on SD cards has changed photography. Now, there are no limits on how many photos you can take.

There are two essential variables to appreciate in underwater photography. First, you usually don't have much time to sort out your shots. You deal with constant movement as fish move with the swell and the currents. You also move with the swell and the currents, so it is a double whammy.

You can capture amazing shots by shooting across a reef edge. This technique highlights movement and depth of field, just like in this image.

The second factor with underwater photography is the light penetration and water clarity. Underwater, it can be tough to adjust for cloudy or dull conditions above. This is even harder when the water itself is cloudy. This is more of a problem, as we will see in the second story, when shooting in deeper water.

Even in poor conditions, focusing on sedentary creatures can be rewarding. These giant clams were photographed at Lizard Island in far north Queensland, Australia.

Finding subjects that stand out against a dark background helps beginners take great photos, such as this scorpionfish and the pair of Pipefish.

There is a perception that underwater photography in shallow water is a waste of time. I disagree. If you are sure not to dive and nobody else is, there are still many hours to spend in shallow water. On the right day, it can be more rewarding than photography in deeper water.

I remember several days at a resort in the Maldives. In only waist-high water, alongside schools of fish near the pier. I observed schools of trevally hunting for bait fish. Meanwhile, reef sharks chased their meals around the pylons. It kept me entertained for hours. At these depths, you can play around and even get split shots, half above and half underwater.

On a bright, sunny day, you can see vibrant colours in shallow water. For example, look at this bannerfish school.

Don’t listen to anyone who says photographing underwater at shallow depths is boring. Even an unskilled photographer can achieve excellent colour differentiation. Natural light improves colour and clarity. It also gives you more flexibility with your camera settings, even in automatic mode.

In the right spot, you could be lucky enough to see a turtle travelling across a reef looking for sea lettuce.

Till next time,

Calvin

[Author’s note: This story is part of a personal challenge to contribute to each of the communities on Vocal. I have now contributed to 29 of the 48 communities.]