Shoot from below

OK everyone says it, don't shoot from above.

BUT

Why?

A lot of fish sit on the sandy bottom, even lying beside them I am often shooting from above. How do you compose a bottom dweller shot? Also many of my "shoot at the surface" trial pictures have ended in disaster (for the photo, not me)

Please demystify me

Cheers

Hal

Hi Hal,

I think that the rule is not "don't shoot from above" rather "try and shoot from below".

Anyway rules are there to be broken! Here are three photos that I think work well from above:

I would try and avoid digging in the sand to get the upwards angle. You'd probably just end up with a nice photo of backscatter!

Alex

Hi Hal

If you look at shots taken from above, shooting down, they just don't look as good as shooting up. But you are right, its not easy. A 45 degree viewfinder can help so you can look down on the housing which is looking up - if that makes sense!

What are you doing in BDA, Hal? I was the Deputy Governor there for 5 years. Ace place!

Lovely shots, Alex. The shark in b/w is a cracker.

And if you really want an above shot.... get way up here .

If it looks good do it....

And if you really want an above shot.... get way up here .

...or go even higher

Alright already I've got the message.

You are allowed to shoot from above, don't dig in the sand, take the picture you want.

And please no satellite photos of the Earth are required to further prove the point!!

Cheers

Hal

Love Alex's shots. You know, the one of the clown fish, I can just hear a judge say "Well, this is shot looking down so I am going to deduct points." A lot of judges get stuck on the "rules" and don't see the composition for what it is or what the photographer was trying to achieve. It is very frustrating at my camera club's competitions. If the judges listened to the title of the photo, like the last competition judge did, then maybe they would be better judges.

If you've got a nice sandy bottom you can "creep" up on the little buggers and shoot head on. I wouldn't do it on coral or other living surface, but in sand I'll lay on the bottom and slowly approach the subject. I've had several subjects like garden eels that will only come up if you go really slowly and hang out a while.

If that doesn't work, I find a collapsible entrenching tool does wonders to get beneath the subject.

Love Alex's shots. You know, the one of the clown fish, I can just hear a judge say "Well, this is shot looking down so I am going to deduct points." A lot of judges get stuck on the "rules" and don't see the composition for what it is or what the photographer was trying to achieve. It is very frustrating at my camera club's competitions. If the judges listened to the title of the photo, like the last competition judge did, then maybe they would be better judges.

I have another example, altough the shot is by far not so perfect as Alex's.

Male grey wrasse got his vivid coloration, period. Maybe for an observer or judge it all ends here and the angle of the shot would mean negative points. But the story of the image continues on the seabed, as the fish started gathering shells, weed and other materials to build the nest, where he'll attract 2 or more females to lay their eggs.

link to the image

All the best

Hi Hal,

 

I think that the rule is not "don't shoot from above" rather "try and shoot from below".

 

Anyway rules are there to be broken! Here are three photos that I think work well from above:

 

I would try and avoid digging in the sand to get the upwards angle. You'd probably just end up with a nice photo of backscatter!

 

Alex

1st and 3rd shot there are stunning.

Nick