Underwater Photography

One of the most important attributes of an great photograph is its composition. Ever wonder what makes a photograph, especially one of a common subject appealing or pleasing to your eye? Chances are composition at leasy played a part in the photo's wow-factor.

Yet for some reason many people don't pay much attention to composition when shooting underwater photography. Perhaps tjis has to with the fact that there are so many other things than need attention while shooting underwater. Several of these things have to do with the fact that most of the time when we are shooting underwater we are scuba diving, which requires paying attention to several details in order to do it safley. Things like your air consumption, your depth, your bottom time, etc, etc.

Another reason for this might be the thrill of the moment. Perhaps you are seeing a whale shark for the first time, or maybe a nudibranch that is completely unfamiliar to you. This is certainly understandable. After all, if these things do not make you excited, perhaps you should think about taking up another hobby!

Thare are also time in which it will just not be possible to compose a photo exactly the way you would wish. Maybe the best angle would require you to brush up agains a delicate coral, which may cause damage to the reef syste. Or maybe you are divinmg in strong curretn and it is simply not possible to move into and hold a good position to get your shot. There are many other reasons also. At times like these, try and remember that it is not always possible to get the best shot and that's ok. Try to just enjoy the moment and not be so dissappointed about it.

Some Proven Compostion Techniques

Frame Your Subject - More often than not by framing your subject the images strength inceases dramatically. For example, while a photo of your dive buddy swimming along may please you, try shooting that same buddy looking through the porthole of a wrek, or parhaps peering at the camera's lens from between two colorful coral heads. This will increase the strength of the image and may also further increase the photos interest by including the dive environment in the picture.

Shoot Against a Clean Background - There are a few ways in which you can accomplish this technique. One way, and perhaps the simplest is to "shoot up"...no I don't mean get high before taking the photo! By getting down low and aiming you camrea up while shooting your subject, it is often possible to