Scags Says: An Expert’s Advice on Becoming a Better Underwater Photographer
By Steven Scagnelli
I have been scuba diving for 21 years now, and except for certification-related dives, I have had a camera with me on every dive. Well, besides a couple after my housing flooded in the camera bucket. So safe to say, I know a thing or two about underwater photography.
To be fair, I didn’t say my pictures were any good, so maybe I don’t! But regardless, I have spent a lot of time underwater with a camera in my hands.
Stop Focusing on Gear
So let me get something out of the way early on. The least important thing is your camera gear selection.
Let me say that again, in case that wasn’t clear, your camera is the least important thing for getting great photos. So nowhere in this article will I mention gear or settings.
Example: This is a 20-year-old photo taken with a 3megapixel camera
While this one is a year old taken with a 42mp camera.
Sure, an expensive camera can help take an okay photo to acceptable, but it will never make an okay photo phenomenal. No, the most critical piece of equipment for all photography is that squishy bit of material floating behind your eyeballs. So at the end of your day, if you are happy with the images your gear can capture, it’s time to stop focusing on equipment and start focusing on the things that make for an outstanding underwater photographer.
How You Can Become a Better Underwater Photographer
Notice I didn’t say outstanding underwater photos; I said underwater photographer. This distinction is because the conditions underwater are so variable that a fantastic shot is never guaranteed. So work on what is in your control, becoming an outstanding photographer. That way, when the moment is right, you are able to capture it.
Learn From Your Mistakes
Photography on land is difficult enough. Then when you add in all the things that make scuba diving an adventure, it becomes exponentially more difficult. Luckily in the age of digital, learning from mistakes costs you nothing. There is no film to develop, so shoot until you fill the card. I take close to 300 photos per hour underwater to get maybe 30 worth sharing.
Focus On What You Can Control
Don’t waste time and air trying to line up the ultimate shot. There is so much working against you, from underwater conditions, such as visibility and currents, to surface concerns, such as weather mixing up the water and lighting angles. Not to mention inconsiderate divers and that marine life tends to move. Given all these potential variables, work on the things closest to you, then expand out from there.
Improve Your Air Consumption
Start with yourself and your air consumption. What are you more in control of than your breath? Nothing. Calm, slow, measured breathing will allow you to stay down longer. Not to mention, the more relaxed you are, the less you scare off the animals.
Think about it. Bellowing out your air is the same to the wildlife as someone standing next to you and blowing an air horn in your face! Of course, you can probably learn to tolerate it, but if you have the ability to move away, you definitely would.
Work on Buoyancy Control
Moving out one degree of consideration is your buoyancy control. The ability to hover inches away from the bottom or your subject while still skillfully manipulating your gear is critical. Watch your trim. That means anything that can be put in a pocket, put in a pocket. And anything you don’t need on that dive, take off your BCD. Be able to move quickly without dredging the bottom and destroying the reef. Excellent buoyance and trim will leave the area undisturbed.
Be Considerate to Other Divers
Be a considerate diver and photographer. If you find something cool, take a few shots. Then call everyone over so they can take a look and clear out. Give everyone else a chance to enjoy it. Then if the dive allows, move back in for some more photos. Don’t hog access to the cool critter or whatever has caught your attention.
How often have you been back on the boat, and someone says, “Oh, you missed this and that, but I’ll show you pictures of it.” Be the better diver and let everyone experience the cool things. After you take photos of something, clear out in a way that doesn’t make it impossible for the next person to look or also get pictures.
If you’re able to skillfully, you can carefully backup by back-finning. Alternatively, two fingers pushing off the bottom is all you need. Don’t kick up sand, or worse, move over the subject, causing it to hide in terror. Generally, be considerate to others.
Plan for Anything
Now we arrive at the things furthest from your control, water and weather conditions. Underwater is a crazy mixed-up world. Things change quickly, so have a plan. After all, this is scuba diving, and if you learned anything during your certifications, planning is key.
Know how your camera captures images in bright clear water and how it captures images in low visibility turbulent water. Know your gear and how to adjust it when the conditions change.
In Underwater Photography, Opportunity is Everywhere
There are two basic things I tell all divers when we get back to the boat when they’re complaining about a lack of photos:
It is a poor craftsperson that blames their tools.
And
I have never been on a dive where I couldn’t find amazing things to photograph.
When the vis is low, I turn my eyes to the macro world. When the wildlife is lacking, I turn my gaze on my fellow divers. They are, after all, exotic creatures underwater. Always have a plan, a backup plan, and a well I’m here and might as well shoot something plan.
Feel free to reach out to me for any advice or questions - except about gear.
Steven “Scags” Scagnelli