How to go from "nice fish portrait" to WOW?

So after reviewing most of the photos from our PNG trip I have to admit I am a bit disappointed. I just can’t say I came back with any WOW photos. Most problems were due to operator error, exposure, poor composition, etc… I am learning from my mistakes. BUT I want to get past taking “nice fish portraits†to taking those kinds of photos I see posted by so many here. Those photographs where all you can think is “that is one of the most incredible things I have ever seenâ€. Mike’s manta rays come to mind.

I think it would be great to hear how the more experienced, published, members plan a “dive� What things do you think are must dos on a dive to capture that special image? What do you think you do differently than the average wannabe like me?

Given understand it varies due to subject matter but I would be very interested in hearing peoples thoughts.

I don't claim to be an expert, and there are many on this forum who consistently produce images that amaze me, but I think the most important thing is to go into the dive with a goal. Research the area, talk to divemasters, look in ID books, and figure out what you want to shoot and what kind of composition you're looking for. There can be several subjects you're looking for on a dive, and "WOW"situations are bound to arise (usually whale sharks while you have a 100mm lens and diopter on) but it helps to focus your dive if you plan ahead what you hope to shoot. This doesn't preclude you from shooting other things, but it increases your chances of success having an identified goal. If you just "get in the water and take some pictures" you're likely to be less focused and miss good opportunities.

Many of my best shots (and almost all of the published ones) have been planned in this manner. Hope this helps.

Here is general advice to achieve your goal:

1. Be an excellent diver. You must be able to push the diving bit aside, and focus on making pictures. It's a totally different perspective from "taking a camera along while diving".

2. Know your equipment inside and out. You must be able to make any adjustment required with your eyes closed. You must also know the limits within which each piece of your photo gear will work.

3. Use the right tool for the right job. As mentioned by Brian, this involves reading up and discussing with local guides.

4. Know your subjects. If you know your subject's behaviour, it's easier to predict how it will react, and which particuar situations to look out for.

5. Observe photos taken by others. This may sound obvious, but when you see a Wow! picture, try and analyse what makes it so, and aim to reproduce these qualities (not the photo itself).

6. Finally, don't just shoot, but aim to MAKE a picture. Think it through first on the boat (once you know or have discussed the site). Focus on creating the image you want, not simply documenting the marine life.

Good luck!

Mat

Great advice. One trap I fall into is feeling obligated to keep moving since I dive with my wife. She is great at finding subjects, very patient but I did see several "series" of shots were maybe if I had sat there longer I would have gotten a more "unique" shot.

Great advice.  One trap I fall into is feeling obligated to keep moving since I dive with my wife.  She is great at finding subjects, very patient but I did see several "series" of shots were maybe if I had sat there longer I would have gotten a more "unique" shot.

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Good advice!

One of the reasons I question the dive operator before I book is to establish their policy with regards to 'accompanied' dives i.e. do they expect the group to stay together throughout the dive. I do not want to be under pressure to keep up with a group; if I find my image subject I want to remain with it until I am satisfied with my results.

Diving with another photographer is ideal; fortunately my regular dive buddy is pefectly happy to 'hang around' whilst I stop; he is also (now!) a great spotter for me too!

Depends on who you are trying to 'wow!

If you aren't shooting images that really inspire you yourself, then try to research what sort of images actually do and shoot in a similar way until you shoot what you really like.

If you are trying to 'wow' others its rather more tricky, but look into which style of image is in vogue and teach yourself to shoot similarly.

But there is nothing wrong with taking 'nice fish portraits'. In my experience, the hit rate of 'wow' pix is exceedingly small whatever, and the only real way to increase the number you take is to shoot more! There are some good comments here - you certainly need to be able to dive without worrying about buoyancy and equipment.

Perhaps the most difficult thing for many divers to achieve is to actually enjoy the subject matter - doing so will undoubtedly inspire you more than anything else. If you actually enjoy being underwater and seeing the creatures you are photographing, the rest will become far easier in my experience. Personally I enjoy looking at many of my own photographs simply because they are images of subject that I enjoyed being with and seeing. My best images are those when I felt inspired when I saw the subject.

On the subject of planning my dive, I find this extremely difficult in the temperate waters which I enjoy most. One of the great delights is of not knowing exactly what you might see down there.

NWDiver,

All great tips and here's a few more:

* Get closer......Even when you think you're close enough. Sometimes a forced perspective, odd angle, etc. is what makes a photos stand out from an ID shot.

* Look at photography outside of diving. See what draws your attention and then think of how UW subjects might benefit from the same technique or style.

* Learn to be a brutal editor of the hundreds (thousands?) of frames we can save digitally. Mauricio Handler calls it "tellng a story" all wrapped up in one moment frozen in time. A great concept......

* Finally, just dive and shoot, and shoot, and shoot your camera more.....Once your eye gets accustomed to how different lenses "see", the speed you can capture a moment will increase. Versus fumbing with the camera you haven't touched in months

Hope this helps!

dhaas

I have just had an article on fish photography published in the latest issue of Underwater Photography Magazine which may be useful. http://www.uwpmag.com

Alex

Do more land photography. There is a Wow photograph within 50 feet of you right now. Find it.

Not to claim that I am the expert, but this is my experience:

1) Do something different. Find out what pleases YOU and makes YOU feel good, and then think about how to show that in a 2x3 frame. I find it is easy to fall into a mold and do what others do. But you can only look at so many CFWA shots depicting a sponge in the forground and a silouetted diver at the surface before you think, "didn't I already see that?" When looking for inspiration by looking at other ppls work, try to find the photographers that BREAK the pattern and so something unique. For example, I liked the Laurent Ballestes "Planete Mers" book that was recommended by Alex Mustard here on Wetpixel precisely becuase it was different from what you typically see.

2) Learn everything you can possibly learn about the area where you are shooting and the subjects you are shooting. What critters can you find at what times and when are they expected to eat, be eaten, mate, lay eggs, sleep etc This was you will be able to "find the story" , understantd what to look for and what really is happening around you. Are you seeing "two fish -an eel and a grouper" or are you seeing a very interesting behavior called "nuclear hunting", where the eel and the grouper are actually working together on a hunt.

3) Be kind and humble. Listen, don't waste time on talking about yourself. People will like you and want to take you places, show you things, share their secrets, and you are more likely to get to capture the unusual. Applies to all photography, but especially when travelling.

Of course, knowing your gear so that you are able to capture what you want to capture when the opportunity presents itself is important, but in the end it is not the gear that will make the moments happen, you yourself are the most important piece of the "gear package".

Marjo's advice is spot on......Look, look, look at the "different", the unique, the "weird" for photo ideas.....We all are shooting WAY too much of the same repetitive images...ME included (Crap, crap, crap

Also, as she states, LISTEN, which for me is a daily challenge!! Meeting Marjo and Kasey at the Wetpixel cocktail party she practices what she's preaching. Listened to other's ideas and input....As far as the rest of us with too many beers in us, oh well....

There is also another sad part of diving these days. Kind of the "Dive-Snob" syndrome......

I talk to and read about how people go places and because one guy got to interact with one particular critter one time, but it wasn't there when he decided to take a week out of his life, he's dissappointed. And likely missed other wonderful things if he would've just found new subjects after listening to the locals! Trying to MAKE photos versus TAKE photos!

I still treasure every moment I get to spend UW no matter where I am diving. Maybe I'm lucky I still am doing this after 36 years (!!!!!) Pushing to make new images is a challenge and it should be a fun one!

Enjoy

dhaas

Thank you dhaas for your kind words... u-hum though I'd like to take the credit for "she practices what she's preaching. Listened to other's ideas and input...." at the wetpixel party, it might have had a little more to do with the fact that I could barely keep my eyes open on tuesday night, which of course had NOTHING to do with the "god-knows-what" of the previous night. But yes, absolutely, it was Great opportunity to be there next to you, Mauricio, Jean and the other who have far more experience than me and just get so much good advice and have the opportunity to learn from you. I was really impressed by how kind and unselfish all you guys were. It seems to me that the general "downtoearthness" of the photographer generally correlates with the experience level and and quality of work!

Great advice, excellent article Alex. So I took ideas that made sense to me. They are my 06 Dive Photography New Years Resolutions.

Question the dive operator before booking establish their policy with regards to 'accompanied' dives i.e. do they expect the group to stay together throughout the dive. I do not want to be under pressure to keep up with a group

Be able to push the diving bit aside, and focus on making pictures. It's a totally different perspective from "taking a camera along while diving".

Observe photos taken by others. This may sound obvious, but when you see a Wow! Picture, try and analyze what makes it so, and aim to reproduce these qualities (not the photo itself).

Finally, don't just shoot, but aim to MAKE a picture. Think it through first on the boat (once you know or have discussed the site). Focus on creating the image you want, not simply documenting the marine life.

Get closer......Even when you think you're close enough. Sometimes a forced perspective, odd angle, etc. is what makes a photos stand out from an ID shot.

When it is evident the fish/subject does not want to be photographed, recognize it and move on.

Look for more Fish Behavior. Things to look for are cleaning, mating, feeding and defense.

Look, look, look at the "different", the unique, the "weird" for photo ideas