Master Guide For Underwater Digital Photography

From camera selection to enhanced exposure, everything necessary to capture underwater digital images is available in this handy reference. Photographers will learn how to select, test, and use digital cameras for technically perfect images, adapt traditional photo techniques to underwater conditions, confidently shoot and light underwater images for great exposure, and remedy common problems that plague underwater photographers. Helpful hints on maintaining, cleaning, transporting, and insuring a digital camera are included. With full-color images that both instruct and inspire, this handbook provides information on every conceivable aspect of creating the right conditions for beautiful underwater photographs.

Simplifying the seemingly difficult and expensive art of underwater photography, this accessible investigation outlines the four elements of success: focus, exposure, composition, and subject. Beginning with an overview of necessary diving skills, this survey reviews these four categories in detail, depicting how to obtain superior results even without the latest and greatest equipment. Maintenance and first-aid tactics are presented as well, reducing the chance of disappointing malfunctions during a dive. Also covered is the importance of developing a photography plan beforehand—both for the safety of the divers and the protection of the underwater environment. Concluding with post-shoot techniques for choosing the best frames, cropping photos for printing, and the top methods of presentation, this examination demonstrates how underwater images can be used to share the world of diving while promoting important conservation efforts.

There is an astonishing world just waiting to be photographed underwater. With marine biologist Dr Alexander Mustard as your guide you can learn all you need to know to explore the amazing creatures and landscapes that lie beneath the surface. From information about diving equipment and cameras, to crucial advice on understanding and controlling light underwater, this book provides all the background you need before you take the plunge. Topics covered include wide-angle light, macro lighting, ambient light and macro techniques

Using the digital darkroom to perfect underwater images, this guide is loaded with tips on how to finesse, fine-tune, retouch, and enhance underwater film scans and digital images with Adobe Photoshop. This comprehensive look at the required setup for a digital darkroom outlines the necessary hardware, monitor calibration, and room lighting, in addition to providing a survey of the top editing tools and descriptions of the most tried-and-true correction techniques. Step-by-step instructions explain how to group underwater images for editing; approach corrections for images that require a multi-step enhancement process; and choose the right output options for printed images, video, slide shows, and Web viewing.

Designed for photographers who already have strong diving skills and understand basic photographic techniques, this reference defines what advanced underwater photography is while teaching the skills necessary to create professional-quality images. Opening with a quick overview of the basics—such as exposure, focus, subject selection, and composition—the author then expands on each of these topics, showing the techniques pros use to achieve truly stunning images. A major factor in advancing beyond the basic level of underwater photography is moving from a point-and-shoot or semi-adjustable camera to using a full-featured digital SLR camera. The myriad equipment choices available when making this transition—including cameras, lenses, underwater housings, and the lighting units designed to be used with them—are explained, as are their respective advantages and shortcomings. Because both beginning and advanced underwater photographers can have equipment-related issues, a trouble-shooting section is included to ensure that minor equipment problems won’t ruin a costly dive trip.

Glass and Water is the first book on underwater photography for freedivers. With contributions from expert underwater photographers this book teaches the skills, knowledge and equipment necessary to successfully pursue underwater photography without scuba gear. Rather than seeking to replace books on underwater photography, Glass and Water focuses on freediving techniques, equipment and photo opportunities. By carefully choosing or adapting freediving and photographic equipment some early hurdles can be avoided. Using appropriate freediving techniques can increase the length of time available for taking photographs underwater. And by being aware of the possibilities, frustrations can be avoided and good subjects sought out. Includes photos and/or contributions from Fred Buyle, Sue Flood, Danny Kessler, Dr Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler, Laura Storm, Andrew Sutton, Shane Wasik, and a Foreword by Dan Bolt. Contents include: Foreword by Dan Bolt; Free­diving Equipment for Underwater Photo­graphy; Photographic Equipment; Underwater Photography Basics; Challenges and Opportunities for Freedivers; Lungcraft; Finning; Descents and Ascents; Neutral Buoyancy; Hydrodynamics; Safety; Creature by Creature; A Virtual Dive; Behind the Lens. Plus a Glossary of key terms. Reviews ‘A very informative book which will help freedivers improve their images… The nicest surprise for me was the “Virtual Dive” chapter. This chapter alone was worth the price of the book… Glass and Water is obviously aimed at freedivers but scuba divers would also benefit from the content of this book': UWP magazine. ‘It’s most unlikely that you’ll come away without learning something brand new and innovative… I’m very impressed indeed’: Martin Edge. (Read Martin’s full review of Glass and Water here). ‘Glass and Water should be as essential as a pair of fins and a camera for underwater photographers. Mark shares his tremendous expertise … the methodical and well-illustrated techniques will benefit anyone wishing to produce great images in the sea’: Brian Skerry.