NAUI Advanced Scuba Diver
94 Underwater Photography
It is very likely that a camera will have to be shared
for the introductory dive pictures or that more than one
type of camera system will be used. Your instructor may
give you an opportunity to take pictures with different
types of cameras so you can compare the differences in
their use and in the results. In order to keep track of who
took which pictures with which camera, it is necessary to
keep a log of the pictures taken with each camera. Most
cameras have a counter to show the number of exposures
taken or remaining. An underwater slate usually accompanies
each camera on a photographic dive, and you should
record your name, the subject and the image number for
every picture you take. This will help identify which pictures
are yours.
Have the instructor recheck all of the camera settings
just before entering the water. The camera will
be set for a proper exposure and focus at a specified
distance. Take all of your pictures at that distance and
according to the directions of your instructor and you
should obtain properly exposed photographs.
Don’t worry about not being allowed to change settings
on this first dive. You will have your hands full just
handling the equipment, keeping yourself stable and the
camera still, and applying the principles of composition.
Don’t forget the importance buoyancy control and proper
breathing.
If you have to hold the strobe and point it at the
subject, don’t forget to hold it away from the camera
and angle it toward the subject to avoid back scatter
and beyond the apparent image to allow for refraction.
Remember also to turn the strobe off when you are
through taking pictures. This conserves battery power.
If the water is clear and bright, you may take pictures
using available light and a wide angle lens. If the
water is dark and turbid, you may take close-up pictures
during your introductory dive. A good procedure when
sharing a camera in any conditions is for you to search
for a subject for your photos while your buddy is taking
pictures and recording them. Your buddy can do the
same when you are using the camera. The rules of the
buddy system still apply, however, so don’t wander away
so far that you lose sight of your buddy.
After the dive, it is always fun to get together to view
and evaluate the results and share your experiences.
Digital images can be viewed in the camera immediately
or, better yet, downloaded and viewed on a large monitor.
Some film can be processed in a very few minutes, and
some resorts and “live aboards,” offer film processing. The
sooner you can see the pictures you have taken, the better.
And, it is a lot of fun to view the results as a group.
It is quite probable that you will become instantly
“hooked” on underwater photography as soon as you
produce a good picture. Your NAUI instructor will provide
you with information on NAUI Underwater Digital
Imaging Specialty courses in the area. Taking pictures
underwater is a wonderful hobby that is challenging, personally
rewarding, and can even be financially rewarding.
We hope you enjoy your introductory experience and
all of the photographic dives you are bound to make in
the future.