Underwater Digital Cameras – How to Take a Great Picture Underwater

All you need is the right equipment and a few hints and tips on how to take great photographs.

The advice below is intended as a guide to those who have never taken underwater pictures and those who would like to improve the quality of their shots.

Always try to get as close to your subject as possible. Remember, that water will reduce the contrast, sharpness and color of the picture, so you need to be no more than 12 inches away from your subject.

For similar reasons to those above, ensure that your flash is turned on. If your digital camera has a “forced flash” mode, then it is a good idea to use this.

To ensure that the composition of your shot is good, try getting as low as possible and taking the picture from an upward angle. A downward angle, on the other hand, is not advised, as it will not provide you with a great shot. Normally, you would attempt to center the subject, but this will not offer the best results underwater.

If you plan to take pictures of underwater flora and fauna, it is recommended that you acquire confidence in your diving skills before taking your camera along with you.

You may find it helpful to practice on dry land. For example, you might want to take close-up shots of household objects, flowers or animals.

If you are serious about Underwater Photography, then it is wise to invest in an external strobe/flash, as this will reduce the backscatter in your pictures. If you have a strobe/flash, ensure that it is positioned separately from the underwater digital camera.

When you start taking underwater pictures, it is recommended that you select the camera’s highest resolution setting and the lowest ISO.

If you are taking a picture of people or animals, remember to ensure that the eyes of the subject are in focus before taking the shot. In addition, for quick focus, use the “spot focus” mode.

If you choose to use a strobe/flash, it is a good idea to use auto white-balance. However, if you aren’t using a flash, select custom white balance or your camera’s underwater mode.

When looking at your photographs in post-production, if you find there is a problem with the sharpness of some shots, it is a good idea to check the shutter speed. For example, 1/30th should be used for stationary objects, 1/60th when the subject is a slow moving object, and 1/125th for fast moving subjects.

There is a fascinatingly beautiful world under our oceans and seas, so if you would like to make the most of what nature has to offer, get yourself one of the many available underwater digital cameras and start taking shots of the plants and animals of the deep.

You can easily grab our handy FREE Top Digital Photography Questions Guide, which will help you with many of your digital photography questions. Just Click Here.

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