Underwater photography goes digital
It's summer holiday season, and eventually your camera's going to end up near the water -- hopefully not in it, unless of course, you're taking advantage of the numerous advances in digital photography that make the submerged two-thirds of the world much easier to photograph.Steven Schwankert
It's summer holiday season, and eventually your camera's going to end up near the water -- hopefully not in it, unless of course, you're taking advantage of the numerous advances in digital photography that make the submerged two-thirds of the world much easier to photograph.
Digicams Adapt
Once the domain of bulky cameras and cumbersome housings, the shrinking size of digital camera bodies means that even enclosed in a protective plastic shell, photography underwater has never been easier.
Aside from a camera's electronics' obvious distaste for moisture, units taken underwater face a separate challenge: pressure. Between the water's surface and 33 feet (10 meters), ambient pressure doubles, a stress test not generally taken into consideration for sea-level designs. The result can be buttons that depress themselves and other malfunctions.
That said, camera makers are now taking to underwater use.
"The point-and-shoot world is very in tune with being able to take cameras underwater," said Stephen Frink, one of the world's top underwater photographers and founder of Stephen Frink Photographic in Key Largo, Florida. "Most of the mainstream camera companies provide housings for their various models of compact digitals, which are terrific bargains really. They offer depth protection to 130 feet (40 meters) and are nicely form-fitting and ergonomic, all for about $200."
Tips for Adjusting
Two of the biggest adjustments for underwater photographers are light and latency. "Shutter lag is the time between when you push the shutter release and the camera actually records the image," Frink said. "The newest compact digitals have significantly reduced shutter lag, but are still not as quick as the D-SLR [Digital SLR]. And, when a fish is moving quickly underwater, instantaneous reaction is necessary to predictably record the peak action."
As for underwater lighting, a flash can help restore much of the natural color, but power settings and distance can present limitations. "As for external strobe [flash], water is 600 times more dense than air, so it takes a powerful strobe to punch through the water and bring out the color and detail in a subject even three feet away. The small built-in flashes on digital compacts aren't up to the job, and even if they were stronger, being in proximity to the lens, they would front light particles in suspension in the water column, creating unsightly backscatter," Frink said. Whenever possible, use an external strobe, he recommended, although it does take a bit of practice and equipment beyond what a normal camera and housing will offer.
Frink had an easy suggestion for newbie underwater photographers. "There is an axiom among photographers in general: 'If your photos aren't good enough, you're not close enough.' This is all the more true in underwater imaging because of the density of the medium, and its propensity to filter out color as a function of depth. The underwater world is vibrant and colorful, so long as a shooter can work close and artfully apply strobe light," he said.
Long Under Water
Nikon launched what became the standard for underwater photography, its Nikonos line, in 1963, having developed the camera in cooperation with scuba pioneer Jacques Cousteau. Nikon ended production of this dedicated underwater SLR (single lens reflex) line in 1984 with the Nikonos V. The vendor still uses the Nikonos name for the waterproof housings available for its Coolpix digital cameras. Coolpix cameras are easy to use underwater and the Nikonos housings are readily available. Bear in mind that any housing may need to be ordered, and that the average photography store may only have one or two on hand, if any, for their entire camera range.
Sony offers dedicated Marine Pack housings for its Cyber-shot line through dealers or the company itself. Prices have come way down: once a $300 investment, housings for most models can now be had for $200 or less.
Selection Expands
Earlier this year, both Olympus Optical and Pentax introduced purpose-built underwater cameras, at 7.1 megapixels and 7 megapixels, respectively. The Olympus Stylus 770SW is rated to 33 feet, with a built-in alarm that alerts you as you approach crush depth, and is available for $380. Pentax's Optio A30 is rated to only 10 feet, perhaps befitting a splash in the shallows more than a deep dive. It retails for $300.
In March, Vivitar brought its ViviCam 6200W to market. Available for a suggested retail price of about $230, the 6-megapixel camera is waterproof down to 33 feet. However, it does lack an onboard flash, potentially making it more appropriate for snorkelers or even boating enthusiasts concerned about spray than for divers who'd take it to its pressure limits.
Instruction Offered
The Professional Association of Diving Instructors Americas, the world's largest diver training organization, offers a digital underwater photography course to certified divers at many of its training centers. The course can be completed in one day and provides an introduction to underwater digital photography equipment and techniques.