Pixiq

If, like in the Beatles song, we all lived in a yellow submarine, we would probably all have wonderful photographs of the beautiful riddles of life that lie beneath the sea. As it is, however, the undersea world remains a largely uncharted and esoteric wonderland, recorded only by those devoted enough to plunge beneath its surface with cameras in tow. The photos they return with are often filled with intense colors, rarely seen creatures, and unfathomable natural mystery. And that is why photos taken underwater are so striking and so popular in photo contests.

Most serious underwater photographers are also experienced SCUBA divers who are so enthralled with what they find in the depths that they are compelled to return to the surface with evidence. But you needn’t rush out to get SCUBA certified in order to capture your own fascinating underwater images (though you can get “resort certified” at many beach resorts—a much faster track to diving); there are many extraordinary subjects in shallow waters within reach at almost any beach. All it takes is a bit of inexpensive snorkeling gear to find them. You can even find some great underwater subjects trapped in tidal pools and attached to rocks at low tide at your local beach.

To take underwater photos you will definitely need either a camera that is capable of going beneath the waves, or a waterproof underwater housing to protect your terrestrial camera. There are many new underwater digital point-and-shoot cameras on the market, and housings are not expensive—plus you can often rent or borrow them at beach resorts or hotels. If you’re going on a diving or snorkeling vacation, many resorts loan or rent good-quality underwater cameras, as well.

The biggest technical challenge of underwater photography is the lack of light. Seawater sucks up light like a photon vacuum cleaner, and most of the color spectrum along with it. In shallow waters (depths of less than 10 feet, 3 m) you can still use sunlight and the colors will remain vibrant, especially in clear-water areas like the Caribbean. But once you go beyond those depths (or are working in murkier waters) fash is your only reliable light source. For that reason virtually all deep-water images are made using fash. Since a lot of underwater photography is essentially close-up, using fash is convenient and provides all the light you need.

Prepare your camera gear with plenty of memory and battery power before you head out for your dive or snorkel excursion, because returning to shore (or a boat) to replace either can be pretty inconvenient. You may also be restricted in what settings you can change once the housing is in place, so ask a companion or instructor for advice on which exposure modes and fash settings to use.

There are several good sites on the Web about underwater shooting (www.wetpixel.com is a popular site) that feature technical articles, forums, and product reviews. A few nights of research and reading will increase the quality of your images substantially.