Beginning underwater photography

The camera you use is not your largest variable. Underwater cameras are available for purchase, ranging from nearly affordable to not even close. Water tight housing cases for land cameras can also be used, for a slightly smaller investment. Add a light source, called a strobe, and you are half way there. In theory.

Most of my research on this type of photography has led me to believe that a masochistic bent to the psyche is nearly a prerequisite since a low ratio of the shots you will take will be considered keepers. Water as a medium is a difficult environment. Thousands of small, even miniscule, particles float between you and that angelfish you were so delighted to stumble upon, making your photo hazy and unclear. Water will also suck the warm end of the color spectrum out of your shots. That's why many underwater photos are studies in blue on blue.

To alleviate the color wash, basic rules have repeatedly been reiterated:

1. Get close to your subject - close enough to touch (however, experts do not recommend touching!).
2. Never shoot down. If you do, you will lose your subject in the background. Here is where a good grasp of diving is valuable. Positioning yourself below your subject will swing the odds in the photographer's favor. The solid blue of the water will create the best background for showcasing your subject.
3. Adding a strobe will be our rule #3. A medium to strong light source will go a long way to bringing back the true colors and textures you have fallen in love with beneath the deep blue sea.

And now you are on the road to great underwater photography.

Happy shooting!

Naturally there are some things you can do to make it easier. Prepare yourself with the following tips and you should be able to get some great photos of your aquarium life.

Clean the glass - Cleaning the glass is perhaps the most overlooked trick in aquarium photography. Dirty glass is responsible for most unsuccessful aquarium photos. You may not notice it while you are shooting, but you WILL when you review your pictures later. Clean the glass thoroughly, before you start your shooting.

Turn off the pumps - Having the constant buzz and bubbles coming from the aquarium pump is a sure way to create disturbance in the picture quality. Turning it off is an easy way to enhance the quality. Turn off all devices that may disturb the water.

Use a tripod - Tripods are always a great help in getting clear and sharp images. They can be really helpful in aquarium photography, even with the fish swimming about. The low light levels lead to slow shutter speeds. So anything you can do to stabilize the camera will help a lot. If you are following a fish to get the best shot you can loosen the levers on the tripod so you can move the camera freely left and right and in some cases also up and down without the camera shaking.

Take lots of pictures. Digital cameras allow you to take lots of pictures without the constant worry about added cost. Just focus on getting the best shot possible, using as many shots as you need.

Use only light from above the tank. Turn off all other lights and cover the natural light from the windows. These sources of light can cause reflections on the glass that might may damage an otherwise perfect photograph.

Aquarium photography is an easy and fun way to underwater photography. Experiment as you go and the result could be better than you suspect!