Underwater Macro Photography 101 Part 4 - Composition

Welcome back to my continuing series on underwater macro photography. In previous posts we’ve looked at the basics and the equipment need to shoot with but now we need to discuss the really important part of all of this what your photo is going to look like! Yep that's right the composition. Composition is the pinnacle of any underwater images especially macro. Poor composition can quickly make a photo of a very interesting subject look drab and boring or give it the punch your subject needs to stand out from all other images.

It is essential to always be aware of composition when thinking about your shot – even before you move into shooting range. Experienced underwater shooters will know the composition, settings and strobe position they will be using before even setting up for a shot. Generally speaking there are three rules to keep in mind regarding macro composition.

No. 1 Low and slow
Even the best of us have frightened a creature or two over the years. Be a good diver first, and a great photographer second. Look for cooperative subjects and don’t harass the marine life or stage your shots. Approach slowly, be cautious, get low and get close. The best shots are those you get from the front or the side. Try to avoid shooting top down, it tends to make your subject look flat and washed out.

No. 2 Yes, that rule. You know the one.
No matter what kind of photographer you are you’ve heard of this, probably been hit of the head with it countless times, I know I have, you know the rule that everyone, who’s anyone, who is, was, and ever will be a photographer - the RULE of THIRDS. For those of you who don’t know it Here is the textbook or in this case Wikipedia definition: The rule of thirds is a "rule of thumb" or guideline which applies to the process of composing visual images such as designs, films, paintings, and photographs. The guideline proposes that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections. Proponents of the technique claim that aligning a subject with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition than simply centering the subject.

For the purposes of this little education blog the Rule of Thirds brakes down like this; try to not have your subject in the middle of your frame, it's less appealing, generally. Try to have for focal point off to one side or the other. In underwater terms your looking to create some “negative space” or if your a fish “swim space”.

No. 3 Playing in the Field
Depth of Field can be a difficult thing to understand and master but once you do, you can do amazing things with photography. Shallow DOF can allow you to highlight a specific point in the image, like the eyes of a fish or the ridges on a sea star. As you move further from your subject, the more depth of field is naturally included in the image. Being creative with your focal length to remove a distracting background for more of the some colourful scales on a fish can truly add to your image.

In all art forms rules exist more as guidelines than actual rules but following these basic tips will help you produce more and more amazing images.

Additional reading:

Macro Photography Basics: https://steemit.com/education/@scottdphoto/underwater-macro-photography-101-part-1

Macro Photography Equipment:
https://steemit.com/education/@scottdphoto/underwater-macro-photography-101-part-2-equipment

Macro Photography Lighting:
https://steemit.com/education/@scottdphoto/underwater-macro-photography-101-lighting

I can't stress enough that photography of any sort is an art form, a personal interpretation of the world that you see. Be creative and most of all have fun! Thanks for reading and if you have any questions please let me know.

Scott

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