Tips For Filming Video Underwater

TIPS FOR FILMING VIDEO UNDERWATER

Many of the most striking underwater images are those of macro subjects. There is an allure to the miniscule details and vivid colours of the nudibranch or the seahorse that cannot be captures without a macro lens. However, capturing the perfect macro image can be more difficult than imagined, the background composition, lighting and camera settings are all of paramount importance, here are a number of tips to capture the best macro images you can.

What to Shoot?

Before beginning the art of macro photography, it is essential to take adequate research on what to take picture of. There are certain locations world-wide where macro favourites can be found. For example, many species of nudibranchs are known to congregate in the Azorean island of Pico, and shrimp mass in Triton Bay. In addition certain creatures have characteristic traits, for example the frogfish will yawn to show that they are strong enough to defend itself. This exact behaviour is the exact reason why patience is a crucial element of macro photography, for many people they will leave, and lose the unique moment that is rarely seen. Further unique behaviours from marine fauna include eels being cleaned by shrimp, shrimp carrying their eggs in their mouth and the Glaucas Atlanticus sea slug floats free mid-ocean.

Composition

The background of your macro shot is almost as important as the main content. Du to the fact that macro photography is all about capturing the precise details of a subject, a distracting background can take away from the intended subject. For that very reason many photographers like to have a plain black background as it allows the viewer to focus completely on the foreground. In turn a plain background will allow the lens to focus on the subject faster and with more clarity as there is less matter to cause focus locking.

When dealing with exposure, many people fin a TTL converter a factor of necessity. This will control the levels of light from the strobe, and for that reason will allow one to focus on other factors of the camera. Using strobes for macro photography is not essential, yet recommended, especially as many unique macro creatures can be seen at night or in caves and caverns. Strobes will also maximise colours vividly.

Depth of field is a vital element of macro photography, and for that reason many recommend having a high aperture such as f/14 or even higher. This will allow a good depth of field, allowing an aesthetically pleasing visual element, but also will retain the detail of the image.

Safety of the Ocean

When shooting macro, imagine looking through binoculars, sometimes you believe you are further away from the subject than you really are. This can be disorientating, similar when shooting with a wide angle, for that reason make sure to be completely aware of where you are on the reef or in the ocean. It is too easy to be clumsy and accidently destroy part of the marine ecosystem with your camera. Furthermore you can damage your dome or lens port in the process.

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