Table Of Content

THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO Underwater Digital Photography Larry Gates Amherst Media ® PUBLISHEROFPHOTOGRAPHYBOOKS CheckoutAmherstMedia’sblogsat: http://portrait-photographer.blogspot.com/ http://weddingphotographer-amherstmedia.blogspot.com/ Copyright©2010byLarryGates. Allrightsreserved. Allphotographsbytheauthorunlessotherwisenoted. Publishedby: AmherstMedia,Inc. P.O.Box586 Buffalo,N.Y.14226 Fax:716-874-4508 www.AmherstMedia.com Publisher:CraigAlesse SeniorEditor/ProductionManager:MichellePerkins AssistantEditor:BarbaraA.Lynch-Johnt EditorialAssistancefrom:SallyJarzab,JohnS.Loder,CareyAnneMaines ISBN-13:978-1-58428-274-7 LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2009903900 PrintedinKorea. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,stored,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical, photocopied,recordedorotherwise,withoutpriorwrittenconsentfromthepublisher. NoticeofDisclaimer:Theinformationcontainedinthisbookisbasedontheauthor’sexperienceandopinions.Theauthor andpublisherwillnotbeheldliablefortheuseormisuseoftheinformationinthisbook. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ...........................9 ConservationIsKey .......................13 A Book for the “Regular Guy” ................9 Final Thoughts ............................15 My Background ...........................10 The Learning Process .......................10 2. THE VALUE OF UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY .............16 1. THE SCUBA DIVER ......................13 It’s Fun ..................................16 Become a Skilled Diver First .................13 It Preserves Memories ......................16 Responsible Diving .........................13 It’s a Creative Challenge .....................17 MakeaPlan .............................13 It Makes Diving More Fun ...................17 BeaGoodBuddy..........................13 It Can Be Profitable ........................17 It’s Competitive ...........................18 OverallPerformance .....................22 It’s Social ................................18 DigitalSLRs.............................22 It’s Educational............................18 TheFeatures ...........................22 TheDrawbacks .........................23 3. EQUIPMENT ...........................19 OverallPerformance .....................23 Basic Components .........................19 Housings .................................23 A Backward Plan ...........................19 Lenses and Focal Length Factors ..............24 Cameras ..................................20 External Strobes ...........................25 Point-and-ShootCameras ..................20 AngleofCoverage ........................26 TheFeatures ...........................20 PowerandColorTemperature ...............26 TheDrawbacks .........................21 RecycleTime ............................26 OverallPerformance .....................21 PowerSource ............................26 Full-FeaturedCameras .....................21 PowerSettings ...........................27 TheFeatures ...........................22 TTLMetering ...........................27 TheDrawbacks .........................22 Diffusion ...............................27 4THEBEGINNER’SGUIDETOUNDERWATERDIGITALPHOTOGRAPHY ModelingLight ..........................28 OneFlashorTwo? ........................28 MountingtotheCamera(OrNot) ...........28 CommunicationwiththeCamera .............29 Slaves ................................30 SynchCords ...........................30 FiberOpticArrays ......................31 Use Your Equipment to its Full Potential .......31 4. THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF AN ACCEPTABLE IMAGE ...................32 Focus ....................................32 DepthofField ...........................32 Fixed,Manual,and/orAutomaticFocus .......34 LagTime ...............................36 CameraMovement ........................36 SubjectMovement ........................36 EvaluateYourResuts ......................36 Exposure .................................36 Aperture ...............................37 ShutterSpeed ............................37 ISOSetting .............................37 ExposureTechniques ......................38 ReadingtheLight ........................38 MeteringtheLight ........................40 ReciprocityandExposureValues .............40 ArtificialLight ...........................44 TTLCapability ........................44 BracketingRevisted .....................44 PuttingItAllTogether ...................45 GuideNumbers ........................47 DynamicRangeandExposureCompensation ...47 WhiteBalance ...........................48 Fine-TuningtheColorand ExposureinPostproduction ...........48 Composition ..............................49 TheRuleofThirds ........................52 VantagePoint ...........................52 Snell’sWindow .........................54 TheEyesHaveIt .........................56 TheQuarteringAngle .....................57 Contrast ................................59 Framing ................................61 LeadingLines ...........................61 KeepitSimple ...........................62 PotraitorLandscapeFormat? ................64 LookforaCamera-FriendlyCharter...........85 LearnfromYourMistakes ..................67 BePrepared .............................85 Subject ...................................67 The Dive Trip .............................86 SubjectSize .............................69 OntheBoat .............................86 PlanningYourSubjects .....................71 BeforeEnteringtheWater ..................86 Wrecks .................................72 EnteringtheWater ........................87 Predation ...............................76 TheDescentandDive .....................87 In Closing ................................78 ReturningtotheBoat .....................88 AftertheDive ...........................88 5. CAMERA CARE ANDMAINTENANCE .......79 When Disaster Strikes .......................89 Do Your Homework ........................79 Storing Your Gear .........................91 Consider the Dive Conditions ................80 A Caveat .................................91 Cleaning and Maintenance ...................81 BasicCleaningTechnique ..................81 6. PRACTICE GOOD TECHNIQUE ............92 Lubrication .............................82 It’s About Technique, Not Equipment .........92 TypesofLubricant .......................83 Understanding Your Subject .................93 ApplyingtheLubricant ...................84 Take More Than One Shot (But Not Too Many) .94 InstallingtheO-Ring ....................84 Move Delicately, Think Cautiously ............95 Don’tForceIt ..........................84 The Subject Appears ........................95 Setting Up for a Dive .......................85 The “Stalk” Technique ......................95 6THEBEGINNER’SGUIDETOUNDERWATERDIGITALPHOTOGRAPHY TakeYourTime ..........................96 Initial Workflow ..........................111 DescendtoItsLevelandCircleAround ........97 MonitorCalibration ......................111 CheckYourSettings .......................97 DevelopaRoutine .......................111 ClosingtheDistance ......................97 FromCameratoComputer ...............111 BeginComposingYourImage ...............97 Organizing ..........................111 DoaSafety/BuddyCheck ..................97 BackingUp ..........................112 The “Drive-By” Technique ...................97 ReviewingtheFiles .....................112 TakeaParallelCourse .....................98 Editing Workflow .........................113 ApproachSlowly .........................98 DuplicatetheFile ........................114 InSurge,Current,andDrift-Diving ...........99 Cropping ..............................114 FishOntheMove ........................99 BasicEnhancements ......................114 The “Head ’Em Off at the Pass” Technique .....99 SaveAlongtheWay ......................115 LocatingthePass .........................99 BeSubtle ..............................116 CirclingAround .........................100 AddressImperfections ....................116 AvoidSpookingtheFish ..................100 Sharpening .............................118 The “Sit and Wait” Technique ...............101 Backing Up ..............................118 SlowingDownMakesYouMoreObservant ....101 Less is More .............................118 WheretoSit ............................102 The “Be Ready” Technique .................102 CONCLUSION ...........................119 AGoodStartingPoint ....................102 AlwaysPrepared,AlwaysObserving ..........103 RESOURCES .............................123 Don’tBecomeTooFixated ................103 Online ..................................123 Some Common Techniques to Avoid..........103 Books...................................123 The“BargeRightIn”Technique ............104 The“Chase”Technique ...................104 INDEX ..................................124 The“Gunfighter”Technique ...............104 Don’tDoIt ............................105 PotentiallyHarmfulTechniques .............106 Remote Cameras ..........................106 When Photographing Creatures, Sometimes Nothing Works ..........106 Photographing the Reef ....................106 AnAmazing(andOftenOverlooked)Subject ..106 PhotographicTechnique ..................108 ConcentrateonComposition ...............108 FurtherGuidelines .......................108 FindaGreatSubject ....................108 PickaGoodAngle .....................109 ThinkAboutDistanceandAngleofView .....109 KeepitSimple.........................109 ConsiderSnell’sWindow .................109 WatchtheColors .......................109 7. POSTPRODUCTION ....................110 The Ethics of Imaging .....................111 THANK YOU Abigthankyougoesouttothefollowingindividuals:MikeHall,TomBowers,MattEmery,AlMalone,MikeWaters, MikeHewitt,ScottRodman,LizJohnson,StephenFrink,BattleVaughn,MattLandau,HansDeJager,GregStuart,Bill andKarenSnyder,BrianBolten,SteveandJenniferWallace,BarryCarter,ShellyBledsoe,ConnieBoynton,KateHum- mel, Chris Edson, Joe Lavery, Jackie and Maggie Goering, Lisa James, Kelly Rabe, Capt. Tom Scott, Sasha Bollanger, TomandTherisaStack,JanandDonMcGarva,CraigNapier,FrankVertosick,JohnandMarlaMitvalsky,DanMechelke, RobertMcCann,RichRoss,VickiePelletier,KarenMinshew,LorieleInman,JimWentz,KaraLeahy,SteveMinor,Bren- dan Heggman, Laurie Gates, Norma and Aubrey Wolff, Dick Rutkowski, Joe Clark, Doc Schwenler, Cynthia Fuentes, HarryKeitzJr.,JimBates,JoeThomas,MaryMoyer,SoniaMurray,RyanCanon,BridgetPalmer,JenniferMaksymiak, AjaVickers,andScottStackal. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Iamgratefulforthehelpandsupportthatthefollowingbusinesseshaveprovidedtomeovertheyears: OceanDivers,KeyLargo,FL Scuba-Do,KeyLargo,FL BlueWaterDivers,KeyLargo,FL PleasureDiver,KeyLargo,FL SouthBeachDivers,MiamiBeach,FL 8THEBEGINNER’SGUIDETOUNDERWATERDIGITALPHOTOGRAPHY INTRODUCTION The goal of this book is to simplify a seemingly com- So, who is the regular guy? The regular guy is not a pro- plex, complicated, technical, and reputedly difficult fessionalphotographer.Hedoesnothavealotoftechnical topic:underwaterphotography.Myaimistomakeiteasier knowledgeaboutphotographybutisinterestedinobtain- forthereadertobegintakingunderwaterphotographsor, ingenoughknow-howtobuildafoundationinunderwa- if they have already begun, to improve their underwater terphotography.Theregularguydoesnotnecessarilyhave photography. the latest and greatest photography equipment. He is a scubadiver,fromnovicetoexpert,whothinksit’skindof ABOOKFORTHE“REGULARGUY” cool to be able to dive and take pictures of the neat stuff This book was written for the “regular guy”—but please heseesdownbelow.Regularguyscomefromallwalksof notethatmyuseofthistermisnotintendedtobegender- lifeandmaybeofanyage. specific; this is a book for female photographers, as well. AdiveraccompaniesaGreenSeaTurtleasitglidesoverthereef.