Digital Photography Underwater Tips DiscoveredWriten by Warren Lynch
Although using digital cameras for underwater photography is relatively easy, there are significant differences between what it takes to shoot underwater as opposed to on land. Most notable is the lighting compensation necessary in the ocean depths. The deeper the depth the more compensation is required for diminished light. Artificial lighting and the manual white light balance features of a digital camera provide the solution.
All colors observed on land are clearly defined by where they fall in reference to primary colors. The properties of natural underwater light are quite different. Color frequencies are so far diffused that all that you are left with is blue. This serves to explain why water appears bluish when looking up towards the sky while submerged deep in the ocean. As a result a camera's automatic white balance may not provide the necessary accuracy. Non-white objects may be perceived as white and corrected inappropriately.
Bluish tint and very little color are common when using many conventional cameras for underwater photography. Using the manual white balance settings on a digital camera can help overcome these lighting inaccuracies. The setting used will depend on the clarity of the water. A basic guideline that could be used is: Daylight mode for depths up to 10 meters or flash assisted macro shots, Cloudy setting for deeper depths or when flash assisted macro mode produces overwhelming bluish tones. This will help to bring out more vibrant colors with less blue.
Sometimes a noticeable haze appears across the entire image. This is light reflecting off sand particles and plankton, which can be rectified by using an external flash or video light instead of a built-in flash. The only exception is close-up macro shots where the camera is very close to the object it attempting to capture.
The use of zoom settings is also significantly different in underwater photography. Adjustments must be made to compensate for light refraction where the air in the lens meets the water. This concept can most easily be demonstrated by putting an object half-way into a glass of water and observing the distorted appearance of the submerged portion of the object. If using the same zoom setting on land as underwater, a narrower field will result so compensate accordingly.
Adjustments in the position of the camera must be made when shooting wide angles underwater. The camera must be positioned at a greater distance from the object than would be required on land to achieve the same results.
Underwater digital photography can easily be mastered through basic trial and error, especially since you don't have to pay for rolls of film. The one thing that must be kept in mind if your excursions are to be a success is to make sure that your camera is always securely enclosed in the waterproof casing. Periodic inspections of the casing can ensure that every one of your underwater adventures will be as gratifying as the last.
Have you ever wanted to try photography underwater? Let someone show you how... This digital photography tip article is brought to you by award-winning professional photographer Warren Lynch. Exciting articles gives both beginners and advance digital camera enthusiast the leg up. With cutting-edge digital pho