Spring break is in full swing right now. Beaches from coast-to-coast are crammed with college coeds and families with young kids on vacation. These precious moments that showcase fun in the sun should be documented and shared with others. However, instead of focusing exclusively on activities that take place above the water, why not dive down below the waves to snap keepers of all your clan’s underwater adventures?
The prospect of taking decent underwater photos is daunting for many people; however, with the right equipment and a little practice, you can snap frame worthy shots without sinking like a rock. For starters, you’ll need proper equipment. Fortunately, you don’t need to run out and purchase an expensive waterproof digital camera to snap your beach keepers. Rather, if you are not an advanced photographer, stick with affordable, disposable waterproof cameras. For those, who are comfortable using your high-quality DSLR in the water, simply invest in a special housing unit. The cases are waterproof and most come equipped with special wide-angle lenses. Depending on how deep you plan to dive, you might consider adding a separate flash or strobe to the unit.
If you aren’t supplementing your camera with different lenses, then you’ll need to get close to your subject before snapping your underwater photos. Water drastically reduces color, clarity and contrast. To compensate you will need to be within two feet of your subject before pressing your camera’s shutter button.
Lighting is another huge issue when you are taking pictures under the sea. The deeper you dive, the darker it gets. Try to make the most of your available light by shooting up towards the surface of the water. If you are photographing a swimmer and some fish, this position allows you to frame them against a blue sky background or isolate each with the sun’s rays streaming down from the water’s surface.
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