chris bangs
11-28-2006, 03:42 PM
For those of you just getting started I will try to post some basic tips on underwater photography.
First lesson/Tip
Using the internal Flash on a compact camera ( Digital or film )
I will break it down based on my own decision process when I do any dive. in a nutshell, suspended particles are your worst enemy! I will gointo how should you deal with them in order to create a nice clear image!
Suspended particles produce what UW photographers call "backscatter", you have seen it! Those large bright blotches that appear in many photos shot with small cameras with internal flashes. In essence what is happening is the light from the flash bounces off the suspended particle and is reflected directly into the lens. The closer the flash is to the lens the more difficult it is to avoid getting this nasty backscatter in the image.
Your mission! Try to reduce the effect it has on your photos.
I will try my best to help.
Basics
The general rule of thumb is to shoot upward as the lighter background will reduce the effect of the backscatter. if the water is a bit dirty a dark background, be it water or reef will highlight the backscatter.
In bad conditions consider shooting macro if your camera or attachments support it, otherwise, do not use the flash and just try to shoot shallow with the sun behind you. Later you can correct the color in photoshop. there is a great "action" plug ( mandrake UW action )in that makes this a snap.
Good vis but some large particles still present, The flash can be used but any particles between you and your subject will produce large lighter blotches on the image. This is a game of chance hoping that most will end up in the dead space in the shot and not on the subject. again in such conditions try shoot so that the background is quite bright.
If the vis is so bad you have trouble seeing your buddy or even reading your gauge, forget the camera and just have a good dive!
anyway, ask questions and I will try my best to help out.
Also, any suggestions as to what I should discuss next?
Chris
First lesson/Tip
Using the internal Flash on a compact camera ( Digital or film )
I will break it down based on my own decision process when I do any dive. in a nutshell, suspended particles are your worst enemy! I will gointo how should you deal with them in order to create a nice clear image!
Suspended particles produce what UW photographers call "backscatter", you have seen it! Those large bright blotches that appear in many photos shot with small cameras with internal flashes. In essence what is happening is the light from the flash bounces off the suspended particle and is reflected directly into the lens. The closer the flash is to the lens the more difficult it is to avoid getting this nasty backscatter in the image.
Your mission! Try to reduce the effect it has on your photos.
I will try my best to help.
Basics
The general rule of thumb is to shoot upward as the lighter background will reduce the effect of the backscatter. if the water is a bit dirty a dark background, be it water or reef will highlight the backscatter.
In bad conditions consider shooting macro if your camera or attachments support it, otherwise, do not use the flash and just try to shoot shallow with the sun behind you. Later you can correct the color in photoshop. there is a great "action" plug ( mandrake UW action )in that makes this a snap.
Good vis but some large particles still present, The flash can be used but any particles between you and your subject will produce large lighter blotches on the image. This is a game of chance hoping that most will end up in the dead space in the shot and not on the subject. again in such conditions try shoot so that the background is quite bright.
If the vis is so bad you have trouble seeing your buddy or even reading your gauge, forget the camera and just have a good dive!
anyway, ask questions and I will try my best to help out.
Also, any suggestions as to what I should discuss next?
Chris