Underwater photography (part one)
This article forms part one of a series of underwater photography articles submitted by Flickr member and diving enthusiast, choppyRocks. Once you have read part one, you may want to read “Photography tips that work for me underwater“.
My story begins in a little oceanic island called Sipadan, located in the Celebes Sea off the coast of East Malaysia. Sipadan is both my husband’s and my favourite dive destination and this was our 5th dive trip back.
On our first day diving, we headed for Barracuda Point, the most exciting dive site here, notorious for its strong current which naturally attracts large schools of pelagic fishes like barracudas, jacks and sharks. Apart from the frenzied schools of fishes here, the coral life here is quite barren so it didn’t take me long to spot this unusual white blob on a rock which I’ve never noticed on our previous trips.
When I came up close, I couldn’t believe my eyes….it was a white anemone! I’ve seen many different coloured anemones, but in my entire 12 years of diving, this was my first time, and to find it occupied by a family of clownfishes, I was completely ecstatic. I scrambled for my camera and briefly checked my settings and took a few quick test shots. I then hurried back to my group who were trailing the big schools. I knew the clownfishes would still be there when I return later.
When I checked my test shots on land, I noticed my settings were fairly accurate to get the clarity I wanted but I was worried if the white anemone would be overexposed. So after downloading it onto my computer and did a manual white balance check, I was pleased to see the result.
That afternoon, when we went back to Barracuda Point….I had my camera settings ready and as the group occupied themselves with the big schools, I went straight to the anemone and prepared to take a few portrait shots I had in mind. It was fairly easy because I had most of the settings right, and all I did was to slow down the shutter speed to 1/40 and got this shot.
Clownfish in white sea anemone; Mode : Shutter speed priority; White balance mode: Underwater; External Strobe(Flash) : Low; Shutter speed : 1/40; Aperture set by camera: 8; Camera: Canon PowerShot G12
Post submitted by Flickr member and diving enthusiast, choppyRocks. Visit choppyRocks’ photostream
You forgot Tip 11 – have a dive buddy who is very patient, willing to do the job of spotter for the far-away shadows of the dive group as they gradually disappear beyond vis range, to hang there in current while dive buddy is nicely tucked in getting the perfect shot