Underwater photography deals with taking photographs while under water and covers still and motion picture imaging with the use of specially designed cameras. Underwater photography is also done with the help of unmanned submersibles at the bottom of the sea. However, it is generally referred to photographs taken by scuba divers in lakes, rivers and under the surface of ocean. They can also be taken while snorkeling or swimming and are pursued as a favorite pastime by many enthusiasts.
Underwater photography is a challenging area in imaging since it requires specialized equipment and techniques for the purpose. Although the basics of photography remain the same, special techniques are needed to get good results because the medium that light travels through is water and not air. In spite of the challenges, underwater photography offers rare and exciting opportunities to the aficionados, where they can delve into the exploration of beauty of marine animals, shipwrecks, underwater caves and landscapes, coral patterns and even portraits of other divers.
One of the major obstacles that the photographers face is the loss of color and contrast when at a certain depth. This is so because the longer wavelengths of sunlight (red and orange) get absorbed quickly by the surrounding water and make everything appear blue-green in color. Due to the loss of color that increases through the water column, objects further from the camera appear colorless. To cope with this problem, photographers use wide-angle lenses, macro lenses and flash technique to restore the lost color. The transparency, magnifying effect and depth of water play a major role while taking pictures underwater, as also the backscatter and angle of sunlight on the surface of water, and should be considered while taking images under water.
The equipments for underwater photography range from digital point and shoot cameras, single lens reflex cameras (SLRs), and compact digital cameras with full exposure controls. The previously introduced underwater cameras require housings which are specific to the cameras. The housings are waterproof and have control knobs and connectors for external flash units. To avoid the hassles related to camera attachments and settings, most photographers prefer digital cameras for use.
Prerequisites
- Underwater photography is generally performed while scuba diving and this makes it important for the photographers to be sufficiently skilled in swimming and scuba techniques.
- Since the imagery involves capturing images under water, the photographers need to use specialized equipments, specifically designed for the purpose.