Underwater Macro Photography 101 Part 1

Over the next few days and several post I’m going to dive into a specific photo subject relating with underwater photography. In previous posts I have talked about the basics of both underwater photography and underwater lighting as well as capturing images of underwater models. I will link those at the bottom of this post.

This first post is all about the basics of macro photography. This is a very large subject and I will be breaking it up into several parts over many posts.

Let’s start with the simplest things. What is macro photography. By definition Macro photography is a form of photography in which the subject of the photograph is usually very small or is a very small detail of a larger object. The resultant photograph is larger than life size.

Macro photographs are taken from extreme close-up range. This allows the image on the sensor plane to be equal to life size or greater. This definition is the same for underwater macro images as well.

At this point I will assume that as a photographer you are familiar with your camera, the functions that it has and using the manual features of your camera; aperture, shutter speed and ISO. As I mentioned in my previous post it is immensely important to achieve the best results you need to be very comfortable and proficient as a diver to achieve the best results possible.

If any of you have any questions regarding any of the things I just mentioned above please post them in the comments and I will do my best to answer them and if necessary I will create a post about a specific subject as well.

Ok, on to the good stuff. Macro is arguably the most popular underwater photography category, attracting divers in all corners of the globe. Underwater macro photography has its own styles, techniques and objectives, this can lead to stunning imagery and looking at subject like you never did before.

As will all underwater photography its starts with good research. What do I want to shoot and where can I find that animal? Talk to locals, hire a guide and plan everything out. Macro photography forces us to slow down and look at all the tiny details that surround us on each and every dive. It is not uncommon for discerning underwater macro photographers to confine themselves to one small area of the reef for the entire dive just to get the perfect shot of the creature they are after. Additionally, macro photography can be somewhat easier to get the hang of than wide angle, so it is a great place to start.

Once you’ve picked your subject and where to find it, now it’s time to understand how to shoot it. Capture that “moment” if you will. Watch your subject, is it displaying any unique behaviours, yawning, hunting or presenting a courtship display? Envision the best possible moment to snap that picture.

A good example of this is if you are shooting a nudibranch that has retractable gills, you’ll want to make sure that their gills are extend when you capture your images.

Next think about your setting and background. Are you shooting up? Do you want and angled composition? Are you filling the frame? Take all of these things into consideration before you create that desired dramatic image.

Lastly and most importantly you will need to consider your focal point and Depth of Field. These two facets of your image are very important and will set the mood, tone and impact of the image. Using your manual setting and adjusting your F-stop (aperture) are the keys to producing a spectacular eye catching image.

In the end researching and understanding your subjects and camera settings, reviewing your screen once you’ve taken a shot and then adjusting is all that really matters. Have fun and more importantly be creative. Find something that you love and swim with it.

Thank for reading and part two will be post soon.

Basic Underwater Photography: https://steemit.com/photography/@scottdphoto/8-basic-principles-of-underwater-photography
Basic Underwater Lighting: https://steemit.com/photography/@scottdphoto/let-there-be-light-basic-principles-of-light-underwater
Underwater Models: https://steemit.com/photography/@scottdphoto/strike-a-pose-underwater-models-101

Scott

For more stories and images - http://www.scottstevensonphotography.ca/