Taking a camera beneath the surface of the water opens a whole new world of creative opportunity. Here’s how to get started in the exciting field of underwater photography. <\/p>

More than 70 per cent of the Earth\u2019s surface is covered in water. There\u2019s an incredible variety of wildlife to be found beneath the surface, from sharks, whales and manta rays to endlessly fascinating varieties of fish, crabs, turtles and seahorses.<\/p>\n

It takes commitment and time to master underwater photography. First, you need to be a confident swimmer and, ideally, a skilled scuba diver or freediver (diving without scuba gear), able to control and position yourself in the water. You won\u2019t get many great photos if you\u2019re flapping your arms and legs about or sinking to the ocean floor.<\/p>\n

Being in control also means not disturbing the habitat. Dragging scuba fins along the ocean floor, for example, will cloud the water with sand, which is bad for photos, not to mention potentially damaging to the habitat itself.<\/p>\n

In terms of composition and settings, the\u00a0same photography skills are needed in water as on land, but the process is made trickier by the fact it\u2019s harder to see your settings, and that you might need to make changes while wearing scuba gloves. You\u2019ll also need to contend with underwater conditions, where water can be silty and \u2018low vis\u2019, and the differing way in which the light travels.<\/p>\n

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How to take great macro photographs of wildlife<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
How to take striking animal portrait photographs<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>
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Specialist equipment for underwater photography<\/h2>\n
You need a specialist underwater camera or a waterproof housing, as well as, in most cases, scuba gear. Underwater photographer Aimee Jan<\/a>, who lives in Western Australia and spends most of her life photographing the marine life of the Ningaloo Reef, uses a Nikon 8-15mm F\/3.5-4.5E ED AFS with a fisheye lens. \u201cI keep my lens at 15mm because otherwise you get black edges around your photos,\u201d she says. \u201cBecause it\u2019s a fisheye lens, it\u2019s wide enough for whale sharks<\/a> and other large marine species. You can fit the whole animal in, even when you\u2019re just a few metres away, and the image is sharp the whole way through.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aimee\u2019s tips for great underwater shots<\/h2>\n
1. Be relaxed and confident<\/h3>\n
\u201cIf you get in the water and start chasing animals, they won\u02bct stick around. It\u2019s so important to be relaxed and respectful of wildlife \u2013 it shows in photos if your subjects are stressed. Things can happen quickly, so make sure you know your camera well in case you need to change settings suddenly. Finding where the buttons are is harder when it\u2019s in a housing.\u201d<\/p>\n
2. Get close<\/h3>\n
\u201cThe water is full of particles, so it\u2019s very different than shooting on land, where there isn\u02bct much getting between your lens and the subject. Within reason, and without causing disturbance or stress, get as close to your subject as you can, to take away as much of the dense water as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
3. Use natural light<\/h3>\n
\u201cIf the water visibility is low, you really need to have the sun behind you. If you\u2019re shooting into the sun, all of the particles are going to light up and your photos could look bad. But shooting into the sun can make for beautiful photos too, such as silhouette shots. I always shoot with natural light \u2013 I don\u02bct like the thought of spooking animals with flash.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read about Aimee and see more of her work at oceanaimee.com<\/a><\/p>\n
How to get started in underwater photography<\/h2>\n
Aimee captured this stunning shot of a whale shark off the Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Here is why the image works.<\/p>\n
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2. Creative framing<\/h3>\nIn this shot, the curve of the ocean surface creates a natural frame for the whale shark. Focus is maintained on the animal and there\u2019s a clear and important gap between the frame and its fin.<\/p>\n

2. Creative framing<\/h3>\n
In this shot, the curve of the ocean surface creates a natural frame for the whale shark. Focus is maintained on the animal and there\u2019s a clear and important gap between the frame and its fin.<\/p>\n