An Introduction to Underwater Photography

Underwater photography is a hobby you don't want to approach lightly. It requires expensive equipment, and you should also be an experienced diver who's aware of safety issues. Here's an introduction to some of the things you'll need to get started in underwater photography.

Most cameras today are not "seaworthy." You could use your digital camera underwater, but you will first need place it in a waterproof housing case. Some models have watertight housing cases designed specifically for the camera, which are worth looking into. You can also buy underwater housings from Ikelite, a company renowned for its underwater camera gear.

Water has a way of magnifying things, so you will need a wide-angle lens to get everything you see in the shot. Another challenge that comes with underwater photography is that everything appears blue and blurry from even a short distance; you don't want to be more than three feet away from your subject, which means knowing the art of approaching underwater creatures without scaring them.

You will need a good flash to compensate for the lower light. It's best to buy a separate flash unit and attach it to your camera with a cord. This gives you better control over the lighting. You need the flash to help bring back some of the true colors, although the flash shouldn't be the primary source of light. You'll also need to learn how to position your flash so that it doesn't reflect off all the dirt or plankton in the water, giving you an effect known as backscatter.

Underwater photography is expensive, challenging, and sometimes risky. However, if you're an experienced diver and can afford the equipment, underwater photography is a very rewarding hobby.

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