By Delani de Waal

Photographs courtesy of Green Vision Foundation

These are the “traditional” underwater photography tips everyone should know:

• Get close to your subject – preferably within 300 mm. Water reduces color, contrast and sharpness.

• Make sure your camera flash is turned on, preferably in “forced flash mode.”

• For best composition – get low, shoot at an upwards angle, don’t centre the subject, try fill your frame with the subject. Don’t shoot “down” at the subject.

• Make sure the subject’s eyes are in focus.

• Get your diving skills down before you start using a camera underwater.

• Practice topside with your camera inside the housing. Try taking close-ups of flowers and household objects.

• To minimize back scatter, buy an external strobe/flash and position it away from your underwater camera housing.

• Get close to your subject – preferably within 300 mm. Water reduces color, contrast and sharpness.

• Make sure your camera flash is turned on, preferably in “forced flash mode.”

• For best composition – get low, shoot at an upwards angle, don’t centre the subject, try fill your frame with the subject. Don’t shoot “down” at the subject.

• Make sure the subject’s eyes are in focus.

• Get your diving skills down before you start using a camera underwater.

• Practice topside with your camera inside the housing. Try taking close-ups of flowers and household objects.

• To minimize backscatter, buy an external strobe/flash and position it away from your underwater camera housing.

More Underwater Photo Tips

• Get out and shoot. Find a place to dive near where you live.

• Share your photos, show t hem to your friends.

• Shoot in raw mode if possible.

• Anticipate what you might see underwater, adjust your strobe, f-stop ahead. It would be a big mistake, to see a shark and having your camera at F22.

• If you find a good static background, look for a good foreground subject

• If you find a good static foreground subject for wide-angle, wait for a good background to “swim by”.

• Learn how to use your histogram and highlights screen, and use them often.

• Check photos UW for sharpness, by viewing at 100% magnification.

• Compose subjects parallel to the camera for close-up macro photography if possible, to get all of the subject in the focal plane.

• Get the exposure right in camera; don’t rely on post-processing.