I will think about 6 things - composition, strobe position (lighting), background, focus, exposure, and depth of field.Ĭomposition - I will try to get low, and evaluate different compositions, such as head on, fill the frame, diagonal, shoot from underneath. I want to capture the subject in the best possible presentation. Presentation - Composition, lighting, and focus in underwater macro photography Read further about Photographing Marine life behavior But even for a nudibranch, there is often a best moment, when its gills are fully out, if it has gills. You may think there is no good or bad moment for this subject. Sometimes the subject will be a beautiful slow-moving nudibranch all by itself. What is it doing, will it exhibit any behavior? Does it change position, yawn, or ambush fish? Is it carrying eggs? Opening / closing its mouth? Try to imagine what the best possible moment to capture will be. To get good at underwater macro photography, it's time to think about moment and presentation. Photo Workshops & Trips Moment - when to take the photo This is something that comes with experience.įurther reading on choosing macro subjects:ĭestinations for underwater photography travel Some subjects you will want to pass over because there is no chance of a good moment or presentation. You must be able to evaluate the potential of a subject. See if there is another subject nearby you can shoot while waiting for them. Try to get in their line of vision so they know you are often interested. Keep your distance watch the direction of the current and your silt. If another photographer is shooting the subject, be careful not to get too close, or to cause silt to flow towards them. When you start your dive, you should have an idea of what you are looking for, the type of habitat it lives in, and what depth ranges it is at. Based on your research, and imagined shots, decide on which lens or lenses to take on your dives. Try to previsualize the shots you would like to get, image how the light should fall on your subject, whether the background will be blurred or in focus. What subjects are producing the best photographs, which backgrounds and compositions look the best, what can you improve on. Next, look at photos that have been taken at these locations. If possible, use a guide who specialized in macro subjects. Where can I find good subjects? What dive sites and what depths are they at? Will I need a wet macro lens? Do searches on the internet, ask divers who have been there before. Taking great macro underwater photos starts with research. If just starting out, I would get a +5, +6 or +7 wet diopter. Diopters come in different strengths, although more powerful is not always better, as the stronger diopters are more difficult to use. They usually screw onto the end of your port, although there are flip-adapters and bayonet adapters available for certain underwater housings. To advance in your underwater macro photography, I consider a wet diopter, also known as a wet macro lens, a must-have piece of underwater photo equipment. The downside is that it limits you to very close subjects, and you have the possibility of camera shake blur. Some people will also decide to get a powerful video light instead, as it allows them to use automatic exposure modes. One is ok, but two is better as it will be easier to reduce backscatter and reduce shadows. Strobes / Video LightsĪlthough you can use your internal flash for macro subjects, I strongly recommend getting one or two strobes. If you are using a full-frame DSLR camera like a Nikon D850 or a Canon 5D Mark IV, then you will want to use the Nikon 105mm VR macro lens, or the Canon 100mm macro lens. The 60mm macro lens is easier to start off with. If you are shooting Sony APC-S sensor size or full frame, like a Sony A6500 or a Sony A7r III, you can use the Sony 50mm macro lens, or the Sony 90mm macro lens - I prefer the 90mm.įor cropped-sensor DSLR shooters, you can use a 60mm or 100/105mm macro lens. For micro-four thirds shootes, the Panasonic 45mm macro lens or the Olympus 60mm macro lens will be your best choices. If you are shooting with a compact camera, you don't have to worry about switching lenses, because your lens is fixed. Underwater Macro Settings for Digital CamerasĮquipment for Underwater Macro Photography Macro Lenses To get good at Underwater Macro Photography, I suggest you master the following topics, and then read on:
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