A Picture Perfect Day

Posted on: 7 May 2021

Have you been getting into underwater photography but do not like how your photos are coming out? If so, it will help to know some tips so that you can take better underwater photos. 

Take Photos At The Subject's Level

A common mistake that people make when they start taking underwater photos is that they photograph everything from the top down. You see something interesting and want to take a picture, so you take it from the depth that you are at and try to focus on the subject. This, unfortunately, leads to bad photos because the image looks flat with a cluttered background.

It will always be better to get on the same level as the subject you are taking photos for. You'll find that the background of your photograph is much more interesting, and you get a more unique angle that captures your subject. However, this should only be done if you are not causing damage to the surroundings in the reef that you are shooting in.

Get As Close As Possible

Another issue that people have is taking photos underwater from a distance. This can cause the subject to look dark and washed out due to being underwater, which ends up producing a photo that doesn't look great. This is one instance where zooming in on your subject is not going to work for that perfect photo. Try getting as close as possible to your subject to see what a difference it will make. Your photos will have more vivid colors with more detail since there is less water to shoot through that could be cloudy.

Frame Your Image Appropriately

You need to keep the framing of your image in mind when capturing your photos, which can be tough when you are underwater and not approaching things at the usual angles that you are used to on land. Remember the photography rule of thirds, where your subject is not perfectly center in the frame and slightly off to the side. You can also use other items underwater to frame your subject. Peering over some plants to take a photo is going to look much more interesting than just having the subject without any items that surround it. It can also help to use leading lines to draw your viewer to the subject of the frame. While they are difficult to find underwater, they can make a big difference when capturing photos. 

For more tips, contact a local professional underwater photographer.