| Author | Thread |
|
|
12/20/2005 10:46:07 AM · #1 |
Do we have any underwater photographers here?
I̢۪m looking for divers that have, at least, a working knowledge of underwater photography so I can pick their brains. Someone that has experience with housings for DSLR̢۪s (and wouldn̢۪t mind answering a few stupid questions) would be especially helpful.
Anyone?
|
|
|
|
12/20/2005 10:59:03 AM · #2 |
I don't have much expirence at all, but I went on a scuba trip last febuary and after i got certified, I did some underwater photography with a point and shoot. I didn't get anything too good, but it was alot of fun.
Do you do dive photography often? I'de love to see some of the pictures you have. |
|
|
|
12/20/2005 11:02:13 AM · #3 |
No experience with underwater photography but have bought and rented scuba gear from here.
Diving Bell
Howard may be able to answer your questions via e-mail or phone particularly if you are interested in buying. |
|
|
|
12/20/2005 11:27:52 AM · #4 |
We had a presenter at the local camera club who did amazing underwater photography. From what I recall from the presentation, lighting, currents and getting the subject to stay still were some of the issues.
The photographer was Ray Martin however a google search turned up nothing. |
|
|
|
12/20/2005 11:33:22 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by liebe:
I don't have much expirence at all, but I went on a scuba trip last febuary and after i got certified, I did some underwater photography with a point and shoot. I didn't get anything too good, but it was alot of fun. |
I bet it was. Are you considering getting into UW photography more seriously?
Originally posted by liebe:
Do you do dive photography often? I'de love to see some of the pictures you have. |
No, not yet anyway. I took some shots with a disposable UW film camera last year while snorkeling on a reef in Belize. I was surprized that the photos actually turned out pretty good. They were nothing to write home about, but much better than I expected.
My wife and I are taking the PADI Open Water Diver course right now, and we'll be doing our certification dives in Mexico in January. We're planning to do another trip to Belize and Cozumel next year. I think I'd like taking my 10D along to get some good pics, but I'm not sure. Some divers have said that they quit taking their camera gear down with them because they spend too much time with the photography and don't enjoy the diving as much.
|
|
|
|
12/20/2005 11:38:20 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
We had a presenter at the local camera club who did amazing underwater photography. From what I recall from the presentation, lighting, currents and getting the subject to stay still were some of the issues.
The photographer was Ray Martin however a google search turned up nothing. |
Sounds like the problems are similar to shooting on land, except the currents of course. But, I suppose you could equate that with wind or other weather related problems on land.
|
|
|
|
12/20/2005 11:39:50 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by micknewton:
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
We had a presenter at the local camera club who did amazing underwater photography. From what I recall from the presentation, lighting, currents and getting the subject to stay still were some of the issues.
The photographer was Ray Martin however a google search turned up nothing. |
Sounds like the problems are similar to shooting on land, except the currents of course. But, I suppose you could equate that with wind or other weather related problems on land. |
From what he said I think lighting was the biggest issue. It falls off a lot faster than on land. |
|
|
|
12/20/2005 11:46:03 AM · #8 |
Unprocessed :)
Few things, if you're interested in underwater photog, I'd go check out scubaboard.com. Lots of good advice from how to take care of you're housing to using manual white balance and those sorts of things.
Personally, if you just want to have fun, I'd get a PnS with a housing. NOt only will it be a LOT cheaper than getting a housing for your dSLR, you won't have to worry about if you're 90feet down and you realize something is leaking and ruining your 10D
The other advantage of a PnS is you can take video (no it's not great quality), but my SO and I took lots of video, and put it together in a little movie with Windows Movie Maker. As much as we like the pictues, nothing beats a film clip of a manta ray you saw.
Another reason to take a PnS is because as you and your wife are doing open water, you'll have enough to think about with buoyancy and not landing on the reefs, etc. etc. With something as complicated as a dSLR, you may spend more time worrying not only about your buoyancy and own equipment, but now you have your camera on top of it. Until you are comfortable, I'd recommend something as simple as possible.
This is just my two cents as someone who has tried to do a little bit. I can try and answer some of your questions, but the pool of knowledge at scubaboard will probably be able to answer a lot of your questions.
Have fun. I'm jealous. No time to go diving this winter for me :(
Cheers! |
|
|
|
12/20/2005 12:04:06 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
From what he said I think lighting was the biggest issue. It falls off a lot faster than on land. |
Yeah, that's what I've heard. And, to make it even more difficult, the colors drop off in different stages as you descend, in the following order: red, orange, yellow, green, and blue. We wouldn't want it to be too easy, now would we? :)
|
|
|
|
12/20/2005 12:17:14 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by pidge:
|
Wow, that's a cool shot! Got any more?
As good as that shot is, it might have been even better with a good DSLR, a sharp lens, and a flash. What do you think?
I agree that it's probably not a good idea to be messing around with a complicated camera until I'm more comfortable with diving, and I hadn't even considered a video camera.
Thanks for the input. Once again, have you got any more? :)
|
|
|
|
12/20/2005 12:53:30 PM · #11 |
Okay
Few things (I'm gonna upload some more pics in a sec)
As said earlier, there will be nothing worse than trying to get your camera to do what you want, and in the process, miss the awesome shark that just went over your head. Before you go with a camera, be sure to make sure you are entirely comfortable with your equipment.
One thing to remember, you are not going to be able to change lens underwater, so you'll have to decide if you're doing macro, telephoto, or whatever.
Flash sucks. Very few places have perfectly clear water. Here is what happens when you use flash on something far away
Notice all the annoying particulates.
As stated earleir, color gets lost the farther down you go, in the order of the light spectrum, so yes, red goes first, and that's why everything is blue below 60 feet or so. It says in your PAdi manual :)
If you want colour underwater, you're best way is with a dive light. This works especially well during night dives. YOu won't get particulate materials like you do with flash
However, if you want to do macro, flash will work because you are close enough to the subject that the particulates won't show up.
Now, a lot can be fixed in PP. All of these (cept the earlier posted one) has had PP done, but just some levels, curves and USM.
Note - all this info is newbie info. I may be totally off in this information, which is why I recomment going over to subaboard where there are dedicated underwater photogs who know what they are talking about.
Another note - I can't reiterate this enough. The reason all these pictures were taken by my SO is that he is a much mroe experienced diver than I. I was diving with new equipment as well, so it took me a few days just to get comfortable with everything. Once I did get comfortable, using the camera was still very diffcult as you're tring to do stuff and the current would make you drift, or you're trying to hold a flashlight and camera and then you have to try and fix buoyancy. The other reason these were all taken by my SO is he turned into a HUGE camera hog and would never let me have the camera. :)
So, a few more for posterity. As said, these are all PP, but were taken with a PnS and an underwater casing.
As I said, don't forget, if it leaks, and you're 90 feet down, your camera may be done for.
Little to much PP. Sorry, 30second job for uploading here
Anyways, whatever you do, the most important things are to relax, never hold your breath, and HAVE FUN!
If you do take pics, expect to see them here!
Cheers |
|
|
|
12/20/2005 12:59:49 PM · #12 |
I have quite a bit of diving experience and some underwater photography experience. I would have alot more, but I've done 95% of my diving in Arkansas. With an average of 10' visability there's not much to photograph. I used to have a "hard" aluminum housing for my Nikon N90s & N8008s, but currently I have the "soft" ewa-marine U-AXP100 housing.
The soft housings allow a cheaper introduction to UW photography. |
|
|
|
12/20/2005 04:38:50 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by pidge:
As said earlier, there will be nothing worse than trying to get your camera to do what you want, and in the process, miss the awesome shark that just went over your head. |
Oh, I wouldn̢۪t worry about that too much. It̢۪ll be a while yet before a shark swimming by me in the water doesn̢۪t have my full and complete attention (and my wallet too if he wants it.) J Besides, I̢۪m used to missing great shots because I̢۪m messing with my gear. It happens to me all the time.
Originally posted by pidge:
Before you go with a camera, be sure to make sure you are entirely comfortable with your equipment. |
Absolutely. If I do take one, it̢۪ll just be one of those disposables that I can fit into a pocket on my BC, and I̢۪ll only use it when it makes sense. I̢۪m usually prety level-headed about things like that, especially when someone else̢۪s (e.g. buddy̢۪s) safety is concerned.
Originally posted by pidge:
Flash sucks. Very few places have perfectly clear water. Here is what happens when you use flash on something far away |
Aren̢۪t there ways to minimize or eliminate this problem? I̢۪ve seen lots of really good, sharp, and colorful images that were taken with a flash. Also, with the color shifts that you get at depth, a flash is probably the only way to get the real colors of the subjects that you̢۪re shooting. I may be wrong, but using a dive light sounds to me like it would be vey hit-or-miss.
Originally posted by pidge:
The other reason these were all taken by my SO is he turned into a HUGE camera hog and would never let me have the camera. :) |
I wonder if that̢۪s what happened on the Apollo 11 moon landing. Neil Armstrong was having so much fun playing with the camera that all the shots ended up being of Buzz Aldrin. It could happen. J
Originally posted by pidge:
As I said, don't forget, if it leaks, and you're 90 feet down, your camera may be done for. |
Ahhh heck, it̢۪s only money.
I do get your drift though (no pun intended.) When shooting underwater, you have all of the problems that you would have on land, magnified, and then some, plus all the difficulties of keeping yourself alive in an environment that is more hostile, and, at times, quite dangerous. Nevertheless, therein lies the adventure, as well as the sense of accomplishment when you succeed.
Thanks Kiyoko! Keep shooting.
|
|
|
|
12/20/2005 04:46:47 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by hyperfocal:
The soft housings allow a cheaper introduction to UW photography. |
I don't think I could bring myself to risk my beloved 10D to a soft housing. I'm not even sure that I want to try a hard housing.
Diving in Arkansas? Would that be in quarrys, lakes, rivers, or...?
|
|
|
|
12/20/2005 08:52:50 PM · #15 |
Originally posted by micknewton:
Originally posted by hyperfocal:
The soft housings allow a cheaper introduction to UW photography. |
I don't think I could bring myself to risk my beloved 10D to a soft housing. I'm not even sure that I want to try a hard housing.
Diving in Arkansas? Would that be in quarrys, lakes, rivers, or...? |
Dumpster diving. ;O) |
|
|
|
12/20/2005 09:21:45 PM · #16 |
|
|
|
12/20/2005 09:47:32 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by cpanaioti:
Originally posted by micknewton:
Originally posted by hyperfocal:
The soft housings allow a cheaper introduction to UW photography. |
I don't think I could bring myself to risk my beloved 10D to a soft housing. I'm not even sure that I want to try a hard housing.
Diving in Arkansas? Would that be in quarrys, lakes, rivers, or...? |
Dumpster diving. ;O) |
Ouch! 
|
|
|
|
12/20/2005 10:07:59 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by liebe:
That is the hardest part. I wanted to focus on getting a good image and just on getting a good image, but then I would forget about my boyency and I crash into coral, ect. I had quite a few scrapes after my first camera dive. |
Crashing into coral!? Wow, you like to learn the hard way, huh? :)
You've got some nice shots there Ali. I bet it was fun too.
The biggest problem that I had using that little disposable camera was seeing through the tiny little viewfinder with a mask on. Of course I was only snorkeling so I didn't have to worry too much about buoyancy. I understand the Ikelite housing for the 10D has some kind of magnifier for the viewfinder.
What someone needs to invent is a heads-up-display (HUD) for a dive mask that shows the TTL view from the camera. Hey, that's a good idea! Just remember, I came up with the idea first. :)
|
|
|
|
12/21/2005 02:34:05 AM · #19 |
| One more advantage of a PnS is the video display that will let you see what your taking w/o having your eye stuck in a viewfinder, as you would with a dSLR... |
|
|
|
12/21/2005 02:35:34 AM · #20 |
I've done a few myself
|
|
|
|
12/21/2005 02:55:09 AM · #21 |
I live on the gulf coast of Florida, and oddly enough I've dove fresh water (crystal river, caves and tunnels) more than salt. As far as photography.....I hate to take my camera even near the sand, let alone water. I think Id go with the P&S idea.
Message edited by author 2005-12-21 02:55:59.
|
|
|
|
12/21/2005 11:51:56 AM · #22 |
Originally posted by pidge:
One more advantage of a PnS is the video display that will let you see what your taking w/o having your eye stuck in a viewfinder, as you would with a dSLR... |
That's a good point. Thanks!
|
|
|
|
12/21/2005 11:52:53 AM · #23 |
Originally posted by TomFoolery:
|
Nice one! :)
|
|
|
|
12/21/2005 11:56:12 AM · #24 |
Originally posted by dewed:
I live on the gulf coast of Florida, and oddly enough I've dove fresh water (crystal river, caves and tunnels) more than salt. As far as photography.....I hate to take my camera even near the sand, let alone water. I think Id go with the P&S idea. |
Awww c'mon dewed, you only live once, and life is short. Get that Rebel out in the water and take some cool pics. :)
|
|
|
|
12/21/2005 12:18:50 PM · #25 |
this is the extent of my underwater photography... a fish tank and a camera...
 |
|
