Category: Scuba diving

The observer below the water surface

Window of opportunity

When taking wide angle photos underwater we observe a remarkable effect: if we look up in quiet water, it appears that we can look at the world above water through a circular window.

Circular window

The reason is found in Snell’s law, which states that light is refracted when going from one medium to another medium with different ‘refraction index’. In our case light goes from air to water. Light propagates not in a straigt line, but is refracted.

Natural light photography underwater

Flash, Forrest, flash!

Many starting photographers conclude there is not much light underwater and start flashing. Many using one flash, more luxury divers use two flashes to prevent shadows. Lazy photographers close the diaphragm and blast out a hell of flash light, having always sharp photos due to the large depth of field and not having to worry about white balance. This however, has some drawbacks:

  • Flashing casts shadows
  • Flashing illuminates dust between camera and object, if flashes direction is not set properly
  • Many fish flash back by reflecting your flash
  • Backgrounds become dark, making the image flat

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Flashing casts shadows

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Backgrounds appear dark

 

Light comes natural

Photographing using natural light has advantages, when done properly:

  • Light underwater is diffused by the water, even in sunny conditions giving nice and smooth illuminated objects
  • You can use the color of the water to get the real underwater experience
  • Dust becomes less annoying
  • You capture much more of the environment, since everything is illuminated, not just your subject
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Naturally illuminated pike