Surface photography is very different from underwater. To shoot underwater correctly and achieve good results, the choice of equipment and methods must be guided by the changes in light that occur in the aquatic environment.
It is necessary
- - lights;
- - wide angle lens;
- -macro nozzles;
- -color-correcting filters;
- -spherical / flat porthole.
Instructions
Step 1
Light is scattered more in water than in air. The image quality is badly affected by suspension, due to which the picture loses detail and sharpness. To get a clear image, you need to get as close to the subject as possible. If the subject is shot at a distance of more than ten meters, the picture will not come out sharp even in clear water. This is why the wide-angle mode is extremely important for underwater photography. To ensure these conditions, choose a camera box with the ability to connect a wide-angle and macro attachments.
Step 2
Light is absorbed as it passes through the water column. This absorption is uneven in the color spectrum. Short waves are absorbed more slowly than long ones. If at a depth of 5m the red component of the spectrum is lost, then below 30m only the blue color remains. Even when immersed in a meter, the colors tend to be distorted towards the blue part of the spectrum. In the photo, the colors are washed out and bluish. If you are shooting at depths below five meters, use lights and flashes for correct color rendering. For depths above five, a pink or red color correction filter will help you.
Step 3
However, without illumination at depth, you can take silhouette photographs in which color contrast does not play an important role. Any camera, even the most budget one, is suitable for this type of shooting. When shooting from bottom to top against the light, expose against glittering water or the sun. The subject will appear dark against a bright background.
Step 4
Refraction is another type of distortion in underwater photography. It arises from the refraction of light rays passing through the flat window of the box. The subject then looks a quarter closer and larger to the lens. As a result, the viewing angle is reduced. To maintain the desired angle of view and avoid distortion, shooting with a wide-angle lens is best done through a spherical window. However, if you are taking macro photography, then you will need a flat window, since the object will be larger in the picture due to the refraction of light.
