Underwater Photography For Everyone: No Fancy Gear Needed!

Do you dream of capturing the beauty of the ocean without expensive gear or getting wet in the cold water?

Say hello to the world of stay-dry underwater photography!

Underwater photography can be as complex or as easy as you choose. In this guide, I’ll describe the easiest method for beginners to get started without expensive gear or even getting in the water.

Why Underwater Photography?

Underwater photography opens up a world of beauty and wonder that is often unseen. From the vibrant colours of sea stars and anemones to the fascinating behaviours of fish and jellies, a whole new world of photography subjects will become available to you. 

It’s a way to document the extraordinary diversity beneath the surface and can be incredibly rewarding as you discover new aspects of aquatic ecosystems.

Gear

Action cameras are the easiest way to get started with underwater photography. 

Unlike regular cameras, which require expensive and cumbersome waterproof housing, action cams come with built-in waterproof capabilities or simple housings. 

I use the Akaso V50 Elite, an older yet reliable model which comes with underwater housing. I mount it on a pole and simply dip it in the water either from shore, on a dock, or from a boat. The Akaso Brave 8 is the latest model and it’s even better since it is completely waterproof and does not need any housing at all up to 10 meters or 33 feet underwater.

You can see me using my pole mount (it’s just a broom stick!) at the beginning of this very relaxing Moon Jelly video, which I also made with the action cam.

Techniques

Underwater photography can be as simple or as complex as you make it. Here’s my straightforward approach:

1. Time-Lapse Mode: I set my camera to time-lapse photo mode, so it takes a photo every 5 seconds. This way, I can focus on positioning and exploring.
2. Blind Shooting: With the camera attached to a pole, I just point it around and hope for the best. You’ll be surprised at the stunning shots you can capture even when you can’t see exactly how each photo is framed.
3. Distance: Make sure to keep your distance. Stay at least 1 foot away from your subject to ensure it is in focus.
4. Stay Dry: The best part? You don’t even have to get into the water! Simply go to the beach at low tide and dip the camera in the tide pools, or put it over the side of a boat or a dock.

Where to Go

Exploring the right locations can make all the difference in your underwater photography:

Tide Pools

At low tide, tide pools are accessible and filled with vibrant marine life like sea stars, crabs, urchins, sea cucumbers, anemones and snails. Not only that, but you can capture great reflections by including the surface of the water in the frame.

Small Boat Adventures

I love to get in my dinghy, paddle out, and find some jellies, fish, or even kelp to photograph. You can do this from a canoe or kayak or any kind of boat. Sometimes I sit on the swim platform of our trawler and explore what is going on below.

Rivers

Check out rivers when the salmon are spawning. This provides a unique opportunity to capture the dynamic life cycle of these fish in a natural setting.

Processing

Once you’ve captured your shots, the magic of underwater photography truly comes to life during post-processing. However, there are some unique challenges to tackle!

Underwater photos often contain numerous tiny particles and debris that can make your images look murky and distracting. Cleaning up these imperfections can be time-consuming, but I have some tricks to help you streamline the process and enhance your photos efficiently.

1. Dealing with Debris: Use spot removal tools in software like Lightroom or Photoshop to quickly eliminate unwanted particles. Adjusting the opacity and feathering of the tool can help make the cleanup look more natural.
2. Color Correction: Underwater shots tend to have a blue or green tint. Utilize color correction tools to restore the natural colors and bring out the vibrancy in your photos. I like to use the dehaze tool for underwater photos.
3. Enhancing Details: Sharpening your main subjects while keeping the background soft can significantly improve the impact of your underwater shots.
4. Batch Processing: Processing underwater photos can be time consuming! To speed up your workflow, apply the same edits to multiple photos using batch processing techniques.

To help you get started with the processing, I’ve included a video demonstration showing step-by-step instructions and tips on speeding up your workflow. This will guide you through the essential techniques and make your post-processing more efficient and enjoyable.

Conclusion

Underwater photography doesn’t have to be intimidating or expensive. With basic gear and simple techniques, you can capture the beauty of the underwater world, explore new environments, and have a lot of fun along the way.