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Underwater Photography Primer
-- Tom Skiba, February 26, 1999
Underwater photography is completely different from land photography. There are no tripods (at least
not usually), objects underwater are not where they appear to be or the size they appear to be, you work
within limits of a tank of air and one roll of film per dive. To become proficient at underwater
photography requires hundreds of underwater hours, good scuba skills, and usually a large investment in
scuba trips, scuba gear, and photo gear. Avid underwater photographers usually start with a disposable
camera or an inexpensive point and shoot of almost any variety - then they move up to either a Sea &
Sea Motormarine or Nikonos V. The Nikonos V has for many years been the standard of the industry.
Housed cameras are popular amoung serious photographers primarily because their close up and macro
capabilities surpass the Nikonos V. I can't believe you could pooh pooh the Nikonos V simply because it
has 'inconvenient controls'. With practice you learn to use them by feel, not by `flipping the camera
over'. That camera is probably the standard of the indurstry and can do amazing things in the underwater
environment. I am sure with time something higher tech will come along, but in the mean time, give the
note to this camera that it deserves. I have seen many talented land photographers become talented
underwater photographers in just a short period of time - once they master some basic scuba skills. The
first choice of these individuals when they stop renting and start buying is almost always the Nikonos V.
-- Elaine Jobin, June 5, 1999
I've been a SCUBA instructor for just over 5 years now, diving for 9 years, while having an interest in
photography all my life and I can tell you something about underwater photography -- it's not as easy as
it looks. There are so many factors from natural light absorption, diffraction from particulate, lack of
stability from current and not being able to rest on something without harming it (and possibly you!),
restricted constraints from air to film on a given dive, and many more that a successful underwater
photographer must overcome for just a few successful shots.
One thing that I feel is crucial is the photographer's diving skills. He/she/they must be comfortable in the
water under a variety of conditions and positions before they can distract themselves by taking pictures.
It still amazes me how my air consumption skyrockets as I try to line up shots. The most important skill
for any diver is buoyancy control -- the ability to comfortably hold his depth in the water at a given
depth (while rising and sinking a few inches as breathing occurs).
I've done most of my southern diving in areas of current, including Cozumel, where you very often you
don't get a second shot of something as you drift. One trick I found useful while coasting across the
bottom at about 3 or more knots is to preset your focusing distance before hand. As you drift, you may
be lucky to come around a coral head to find a barracuda or something else worth taking a snap in the
range you just set. Very often, one shot is all you ever get. If you do get the chance to stop or slow down
for a few shots, by all means, take three but if the current is pulling you along so stopping will tire you
or harm the coral, try pre-setting your camera.
http://www.photo.net/underwater/primer (11 of 23)7/3/2005 2:18:13 AM