
DECENT EXPOSURE
If you study a good underwater image and look at the components that help it to be memorable – whether it be an interesting subject exhibiting some particular behaviour, or maybe something brightly coloured or lit in a different way – if it isn’t well exposed, the picture simply won’t stand out and command attention […]

CAPTURING SUBJECT BEHAVIOUR IN MACRO IMAGES
Some insight into, and also tips on looking for and capturing, interesting behaviour in the subjects we find to photograph in macro Behaviour is defined as the actions and mannerisms made by individuals and organisms in conjunction with themselves or their environment, which includes other systems or organisms around. We have all done it and […]

FISH PORTRAITS
Fish are a subject where I see a lot of what I call ‘ID shots’, with the fish sideways on, lifeless and on the whole not very interesting. Fish are not easy subjects, as they can move around quickly and are certainly unpredictable and therefore it can be difficult to take a good image. They […]

OPENING UP THE APERTURE
An insight into, and also tips on, opening up the aperture for an arty look to your images. In photography, we are always looking for ways of showing a subject or a scene in a more creative or dynamic way. In underwater photography, there has been a trend towards more surreal images, with photographers of […]

LIGHTING TECHNIQUES FOR MACRO
Martyn Guess provides some ideas on how to use different lighting techniques rather than just point the strobe straight at the subject . As I said in my last article, ‘good macro photography requires us to follow a few basic rules and then to apply these to our images. As well as being well composed, […]

SLOWING THINGS DOWN
How using a slow shutter speed, combined with a range of different techniques, can add a whole new dimension to your underwater image portfolio Photography is about capturing an instant to allows you to tell a story in a single frame. The challenge for underwater photographers is how to do this when your subjects are […]

Back to Basics
Tips to ease back into the underwater photography world We all know that when you do not use a skill, you get rusty, muscle memory fades, and things you used to know by heart get a bit foggy. Unfortunately, underwater photography is no different. Many of us have been stuck indoors for what seems like […]

Lightroom housekeeping during Lockdown
2020 has been a tough year for everyone. Not being able to travel to our favourite dive destinations and forced to stay at home has driven many of us to spend hours working on our pictures and organizing our catalogue, time for some Lightroom Housekeeping. We are now in the middle of a second, but […]

Inward lighting. Make your subjects pop
Some images stand out more than others. I often asked myself why, and to be sure, there are lots of distinctive reasons. But the usual answer is not because the subject is a rare or unique creature. In many cases, the reason is the subject is perfectly isolated without distracting elements that draw your attention […]

Nabucco Island Resort, Kalimantan
Today I will deviate a bit from my usual photo blogs and will talk about a destination. Nabucco Islan Resort, a fantastic place with excellent diving for the adventurous diver. As an avid underwater photographer, I’m always on the look for new and exotic destinations. Recently I had the opportunity to join Martin Edge on […]