Underwater photography

Underwater photography is the process of taking photographs while under water. It is usually done while scuba diving, but can be done while diving on surface supply, snorkeling, swimming, from a submersible or remotely operated underwater vehicle, or from automated cameras lowered from the surface.

History

Underwater photography can be traced back to the mid-19th century with the invention of the daguerreotype process. The first underwater photographs were taken by Louis Boutan in 1893, using a specially designed camera housing to protect the photographic plate from the water.

Equipment

Underwater photography requires specialized equipment due to the challenging environment in which it is conducted. This includes underwater cameras or waterproof housings for conventional cameras, as well as lights and strobes to compensate for the loss of color and clarity at depth.

Cameras

Underwater cameras are typically more robust and waterproof to a greater depth than regular cameras. They may also have special features such as wide-angle lenses and color correction filters to compensate for the lack of light and color at depth.

Housings

Housings are used to protect conventional cameras from the water and pressure. They are typically made from polycarbonate or aluminum and have controls that allow the photographer to operate the camera while it is inside the housing.

Lights and Strobes

Underwater lights and strobes are used to illuminate the subject and restore color lost due to the absorption of light by the water. They can be mounted on the camera or on separate arms.

Techniques

Underwater photography techniques vary depending on the depth, visibility, current, and the subject of the photograph. Some common techniques include macro photography, wide-angle photography, and over-under photography.

Macro Photography

Macro photography involves taking close-up pictures of small subjects. This is often used in underwater photography to capture the detail of small marine life.

Wide-Angle Photography

Wide-angle photography is used to capture larger scenes, such as a coral reef or a group of divers. This requires a wide-angle lens and often additional lighting.

Over-Under Photography

Over-under photography involves taking a picture with part of the image above the water's surface and part below. This requires a dome port on the camera housing and careful positioning to get the water line in the right place.

See also

• Marine biology
• Scuba diving
• Underwater videography