Underwater Photography Tips - Shirts off, lenses on!

One of the biggest things to remember when shooting underwater is that you're shooting through a natural filter which is the water. Water can impact your photo in many ways, from clarity to colour and contrast and so on and so forth. The number one advice here is to get as close as possible to your subject, be it a plant, fish or coral, the closer you get, the less hindrance there will be to your final photograph by reducing the amount of water you're shooting through which will make your lighting work better as well.

Underwater photography isn't easy, like nature photography it takes time for the perfect moment, And unlike a land shoot, you're immersed in water which makes everything all the more troublesome. Patience is a virtue and an incredibly important one here. If the angle you're shooting from isn't doing justice to your subject, shift a little and try again from another, just so you get it right.

Clear water is a blessing when it comes to underwater photography, and that is why picking your location is important, it's also got to have great subjects to shoot as well. A location many photographers swear by when it comes to both these matters is the Maldives. Dive resorts have since popped up everywhere that offer these excursions for tourists and photographers alike to make the most of their trips. One such example is Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi which offers great activities like scuba diving and snorkeling in prime locations allowing you to get closer to the wonderful and colourful marine life.

This is something that can vary depending on the subject and location, however, in most cases of underwater photography, it's always advisable to shoot up from a low angle. This separates the subject from the background, increases the space and dynamic range allowing for a more engaging, spaced out picture without clutter or distraction.

Something to get familiar with before embarking on this adventure would be to make sure your diving skills are ready and prepared for the environment and the activity. Two things take prominence here. Number one is your safety as this will likely be a time-consuming adventure. Make sure you can properly swim and handle yourself while carrying all your safety gear and photography equipment as this can be very heavy when all put together. Number two is the safety of your equipment. Camera gear isn't cheap and you do not want to break them before you take any photos or even lose all the photos you took. Definitely take precautions by making sure all your equipment is compatible in these environments and always have backup equipment as well, just in case any fail.