A Complete Guide To Underwater Photography

Underwater photography opens a window into the hidden beauty of the ocean, allowing photographers to share stunning visuals and raise awareness about marine conservation. 

Whether you're a hobbyist or a professional, mastering the art of capturing life beneath the waves is both a challenge and a reward.

Why Should You Try Underwater Photography?

Underwater photography is far more than a hobby or even a profession - it’s a powerful tool for connecting people to the underwater world. 

Whether captured by professional conservation photographers or passionate hobbyists, images of our oceans can ignite curiosity and reveal the challenges that are faced by marine ecosystems. 

Photographs of our underwater world have the potential to inspire awareness and action in people, regardless of their proximity to the sea. By sharing their work, underwater photographers contribute to a greater appreciation of the ocean and encourage communities to help preserve it for future generations.

An individual admiring my awarded photo at the Mangrove Photography Awards exhibit, emphasizing the impact of underwater photography in raising awareness about ocean conservation.

However, getting started with underwater photography has its own challenges. Two very different skills, photography and diving, must be mastered and new techniques must be learned to blend them together. 

Coming from a landlocked country, I had to face even more difficulties by travelling far, relying on unpredictable nature, and often overcoming environmental challenges in the process.

Additionally, underwater photography is a costly pursuit. Yet, the rewards are unparalleled. No other activity allows you to witness hidden marine wonders, experience extraordinary wildlife encounters, and learn about marine habitats and species up close and with like-minded individuals. 

Beyond personal fulfilment, the greatest rewards lie in capturing these moments and being able to share them with the world. Through underwater photography, we can bridge the gap between humanity and our ocean’s amazing inhabitants.

Essential Gear

One of the biggest hurdles in getting started with underwater photography is buying the right kit. 

The most important piece of kit is arguably your camera and SD card. There are many types of cameras you can choose from depending on your preference, with some cameras having interchangeable lenses (DSLR and mirrorless cameras) and others being more compact and ready-to-go (action cameras). 

An essential accessory is underwater camera housing. Camera housing is used to protect your camera and keep it functional underwater and at depth. Cameras that have interchangeable lenses tend to require more expensive housings, and these can be difficult to handle for beginner underwater photographs. 

Compact cameras, on the other hand, use smaller housings that are cheaper to buy and more portable. Compact camera housings are also typically able to support wet lens systems in which external lenses are mounted outside the underwater housing. 

This means you can get away with having a single camera housing, making it a travel-friendly option. Wet lenses can be changed during the dive, allowing you to switch from wide-angle to macro within the same dive.

If you decide to go with an interchangeable camera, then your lens choice is also important. The most popular lenses within underwater photography are wide-angle for large groups and ocean-scapes, fisheye for artistic perspectives, or macro for close-up images. 

DSLR and mirrorless cameras use a dry port system and require dedicated port systems for different lenses. Dry port systems with dedicated lenses will produce the best quality images but are also not as beginner-friendly as multiple housings and accessories are needed.

Artificial lighting is another important component of your kit. Since natural lighting diminishes underwater, strobes or powerful LED lights are needed to illuminate subjects and highlight the vivid colours often lost at depth. 

An underwater photographer using a mirrorless camera and strobes to photograph a school of fish, demonstrating the gear needed for underwater photography.

Some of the big names on the market right now are Inon, Retra, Flash, Sea Sea, and Ikelite. When purchasing lighting accessories, keep an eye on the connection type to make sure that it’s compatible with your camera type. 

Beyond the essentials, there are many diving accessories you can purchase depending on your needs. These might include arms, clamps, float systems, and leak detectors. For more advanced photographers, underwater tripods and colour-correction filters can further improve your image quality. 

It’s also possible to get charging adapters that connect via a bulkhead to allow you to charge the camera without opening its housing. 

Ultimately, the right combination of equipment is what allows photographers to focus on the artistry of capturing the ocean’s wonders, unfettered by technical limitations.

Combining Diving and Photography - Mastering Underwater Techniques 

Underwater photography requires a dual mastery of both diving and photographic techniques, each presenting its own set of challenges. Mastering photography on land is a critical first step. 

Familiarize yourself with your camera and its functions, including shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and white balance. Develop strong composition skills by using techniques like the rule of thirds, leading lines, and effective use of negative space. These foundational skills will ensure you are prepared to adapt to the unique challenges of underwater shooting.

Equally important is honing your diving skills before introducing a camera. Perfect buoyancy control is essential, as it not only ensures your safety and comfort but also protects marine environments from accidental damage. Divers should also be mindful of their surroundings, maintaining situational awareness to avoid harming marine life or other divers. 

Each underwater environment presents distinct challenges, such as cold water, currents, or varying visibility. Researching the location, conditions, and behaviors of your intended subjects is needed for a successful dive.

The true art lies in combining these two disciplines. Experienced underwater photographers can effortlessly manage their buoyancy while adjusting camera settings to capture fleeting moments. 

This allows for seamless transitions between observing marine life and capturing it, maintaining safety and allowing for artistic precision in the stunning underwater world.

Working with Light

Understanding the behavior of light underwater is essential for capturing stunning images. As light penetrates water, it diffuses and diminishes, with red wavelengths fading first, leaving a predominantly blue tone. 

To counter this, underwater photographers often combine natural and artificial light sources. While natural light can beautifully illuminate shallow scenes, artificial light such as strobes or underwater flashlights is needed to add vibrancy and detail to deeper or shaded subjects. 

A blue shark at Pico Islands with sunlight streaming through the water, highlighting the interplay of natural light underwater.

Proper strobe positioning is key to minimizing backscatter which is a phenomenon where particles in the water reflect light and create unwanted specks in images. Shooting with the sun positioned above and framing subjects from below can also improve natural light effects for dramatic shots.

Common Types of Underwater Photography

Several different key techniques are used within underwater photography which depend on the subject and the message the photographer wants to convey.

Wide-angle photography: Ideal for showcasing expansive coral reefs, shipwrecks, and large marine animals like sharks and manta rays. Wide-angle photography emphasizes the scale and interconnectedness of our underwater ecosystems. 

A close-up wide-angle shot of a grouper, showcasing the effect of a fisheye lens underwater.

Macro photography: Macro photography is perfect for highlighting the intricate beauty of small marine creatures such as nudibranchs, shrimps, and other tiny wonders. This style focuses on details that are often overlooked in the vast underwater world.

A top-down macro shot of a small fish, captured with the Sony 90mm macro lens to showcase fine details and vibrant colors.

Creative techniques: Advanced photographers can experiment with different creative techniques like split shots (half above and half below the waterline), motion blur for dynamic action, or silhouette photography to create striking contrasts against the sunlight.

A turtle on the reef with motion blur, demonstrating the creative technique of capturing dynamic underwater action.

Mastering light and choosing the right subjects allows underwater photographers to create captivating stories that connect people to the wonders of the ocean.

Post-Processing

Post-processing is a crucial step in underwater photography, helping to refine and elevate your images to their full potential. Popular software options such as Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and Luminar 4 offer powerful tools tailored for photo editing. For specialized tasks, tools like Topaz AI can effectively enhance sharpness and manage noise.

One of the most important adjustments for underwater photos is correcting color balance. As previously mentioned, water naturally filters out warm tones and leaves images with a blue or green cast. 

Editing an underwater photograph on a laptop in Adobe Lightroom, focusing on color balance and enhancing the image.

Adjusting the color balance restores vibrancy and brings out the natural hues of marine life. Similarly, tweaking contrast and sharpness helps define details and textures lost in the underwater environment.

Removing backscatter, caused by light reflecting off particles in the water, is another common post-processing task. Software tools and careful masking techniques can clean up these distractions and improve the clarity of your shots. Finally, cropping can enhance composition, drawing attention to your subject and eliminating unnecessary elements in the frame.

Mastering post-processing ensures that the beauty and uniqueness of the underwater world are faithfully represented.

Tips for Beginners: Starting Strong with Ethics in Mind

Getting started with underwater photography is an exciting adventure but it’s important to approach it with care and respect for the marine environment. Conservation and ethics should always be at the forefront of your practice. 

Avoid disturbing marine life or damaging fragile habitats such as coral reefs. Always follow established guidelines for responsible diving and respect the rules of protected marine parks to be sure that your activities contribute to the preservation of these delicate ecosystems. Remember that you have the power to promote ocean conservation and inspire others through your work.

For beginners, starting in easy-to-dive locations like shallow shore dives is a great way to build confidence. Try to focus on mastering buoyancy control and handling your camera with care before venturing into more challenging environments. These foundational skills are important for taking high-quality images without harming the underwater world. 

Learning from experienced underwater photographers, whether through workshops, dive clubs, or online communities, can really accelerate your progress and offer valuable insights into techniques and ethical practices. With patience, practice, and a commitment to conservation, beginners can develop their skills while becoming advocates for the oceans they capture so beautifully.

Wrapping It Up

With the right skills, equipment, and a deep respect for the marine environment, underwater photography can become a powerful tool for storytelling and conservation. 

By practicing ethical photography and continually learning, even beginners can contribute to preserving the beauty of our oceans for generations to come.