What To Do Before Using Your Camera Underwater

Before you engage in underwater photography, make sure you are comfortable with being underwater. Make sure you feel comfortable with diving and breathing skills. Taking photography underwater can be very distracting so you need to feel secure with being underwater before you can add an additional step. Additionally, you should feel comfortable using the camera that you will be using underwater. Try using the camera in a dimly lit room for practice before taking the camera out underwater. Take pictures of different objects, specifically smaller objects so you can see how everything turns out. You should try out all the different settings and see which ones you prefer. Check to see how the camera functions with the macro mode off and the macro mode on.

 

Advice When Engaging in Underwater Digital Photography

First, you should check the settings of your flash on the camera. You need to make sure that the flash is set to forced flash. If you leave the setting on auto flash you will get pictures that come out blue. Forced flash will add color to your photos. Objects that are within 3 to 4 feet away will require the flash setting to be turned on. If you are within 2 feet then you will turn your internal flash on. If you are further than 3 feet away then you should turn the internal flash off. An exception will be used if you are trying to capture a fast object such as a shark. If you have a pet goldfish or any kinds of pet, then you know what we mean by trying to capture fast moving sea creatures! Goldfishes move slower though…

 

Range of your macro settings

Understand the range of your macro settings. Most cameras have a macro setting range of ½ inch to 2 feet. If you get closer than the range you will not be able to take the photo and anything further away will require that you turn the macro setting off.

There are some surfers who bring their waterproof cameras out with them into the ocean, and who surf with the cameras around their neck. But here’s what we think: Unless you’re a subway surfer for trains or trained in scuba diving somehow, don’t do that. It will ruin and damage your cameras because of all the intensive jerking about.

 

Camera zooming

Next tip: make sure that your camera is zoomed as far out as possible. Being zoomed out of the widest setting will affect the range that you can focus primarily if you are in macro mode. Being zoomed in too far will not allow you to focus which would defeat the entire purpose of the macro setting. Instead of zooming, it is recommended that you just get closer to the object whenever possible. As a rule of thumb, the closer you are able to get to the object the better the color and the contrast will be for your picture.

It is also recommended that when you are able to get close to the object that you also get as low as possible. If possible, you want to get eye level with the subject when taking the picture. Try to have the subject face you when you are taking your pictures.

 

Locking focus

If you are experiencing problems with your camera lagging then you can try to “locking the focus”. Pressing the shutter button about halfway down and adjusting your composition can complete this. During this step, you need to make sure that your camera is absolutely still so you can get the best results. This is generally recommended when you are dealing with objects that do not move.