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Underwater Camera Tips

b) Crystal Clear Water
No matter what equipment you use, good underwater pictures require crystal clear water. (It is important to remember that the human eye can see more detail than any camera.)

Avoid floating particles stirred up by currents, waves or divers.
Low visibility is caused by invisible particles, algae or by silt. In this case, use the close-up lens and a distance of 2 ft.
Visibility of 50 ft (horizontally) gives you the best pictures. Shoot at the ideal range, 4-6 ft.

Back Scatter of the flash caused by stirred up sand

Low visibility

Perfect visibility

c) Flash: Purpose of a U/W flash is to bring out colors at the ideal shooting range (not to illuminate objects at longer distances).

Distance 4ft, In dark cave. (regular lens)

Overflash on close object. (regular lens)
The close-up lens corrects color and flash at close range (2ft / 60cm)

d) Composition: Look for good contrast and color between object (fish), surrounding (coral) and background (water). Look for exciting shapes.

Poor contrast

Good contrast
(with close-up lens)

Interesting Coral Shapes
(with regular lens)

e) Processing Lab: Request to increase yellow and red. Request to see sample prints.

Lab A: "Normal" processing
Lab B: Yellow and red each +2, density +1

4. Great Effects

Everything about seeing and taking pictures is about light. Pay attention to light and shade, colors and contrasts, don’t just get mesmerized by that big fish. Your best colors and effects will be where the sun still penetrates the water: Dive or snorkel at a vertical sun from 10 am to 2 PM in a depth not greater than 25 ft. / 8 m. Each depth and light condition has its own attraction. Experiment and capture different effects at different depths and scenes.
In crystal clear tropical waters you will get great turquoise water colors to a depth of 20 ft. / 7 m, then an intense blue, and a wonderful deep blue beyond 40 ft. / 12 m. The SeaLife “Coral Flash” will intensify red and yellow colors of close objects (4 ft. to 6 ft. / 1.2 m to 1.8 m) and leave the blue background untouched. The color corrected close-up lens will intensify the warm colors (red and yellow) even more and moderate the built-in flash.

Look for rich color contrasts. You may use the Sealife External Flash to add color and brightness. To really illuminate coral or any area further than 6 ft., you cannot just increase the power of your flash, but you must direct a light or secondary flash at an angle of 45 degrees from your camera at the object. If the water is not as clear as you may wish, choose closer objects. The MACRO 3X Close-Up lens can be used for distances of 2 ft. to 4 ft. / 60 cm to 1.2 m, the MACRO 8X lens for 14” to 16”/35cm to 40cm.

Even shots without any color, just a black silhouette against the bright water surface can make dramatic shots.

A “halo” effect can be created by the sun or a light source behind a person or a sea creature.

In bright conditions on land or in snorkeling use ASA 100 print film or ASA 64 for slides. A secondary strobe can be used to reduce “marine snow”, caused by the flash hitting microscopically small particles like algae or plankton. The primary flash of the camera must be covered with a flash reflector which reflects the light towards the external flash sensor and not directly towards the target. The SeaLife Close-Up Lenses also help to reduce marine snow.

For pictures partially above and under water, coat the lens with a touch of detergent to let drops run off. This can take many shots until the water surface is exactly on the center of the lens.

5. Inspiring Books

Every dive or photo dealer with an underwater camera department will have some worthwhile books on underwater photography. An illustrated reference book should be your constant companion as well as this manual. Keep it inside your SeaLife Dry Box. The best book, however, is the one you yourself compose.

6. An U/W photo course can be very enjoyable.

Ask your dive instructor. Your dive store also offers a variety of trips with “Underwater Photo Safaris” to the world’s most beautiful reefs in good company and with a knowledgeable guide.

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Digital Cameras             Film Cameras

Camera Sets

Camera Accessories

Underwater Camera Tips

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