Where to (or not to) Begin

In August 2005 I started my own company and for the next three years had a very limited life which basically involved working, thinking about work and dreaming about other things (whilst at work)! On new years eve 2008, with the business now going well, I made a new years resolution to do at least two things I have always wanted to do but never been able to. Learn to ride a motorbike and learn to scuba dive...

and so starts 2009.

On a frosty January morning I deforsted the car and went to my local dive school at Capernwray in the UK (top place if you haven't been) and signed up for my PADI open water. Ok, so it wasn't quite the Maldives but I'd made a start and was really enjoying it. Over the year I proceeded to do my Advanced Open Water and i'm currently studying for my Rescue Diver qualification. I'm now at the stage where I have nearly hit the big 50 in my dive book and after an awesome trip to Egypt this summer I am keen to take my diving a little further.

I did my degree in Film Making and Photography (allbeit 5 years ago, with little if any practice since I graduated) so UW photgraphy seems a good natural progression. I already have a Cannon G9 which I use when on holiday, at events etc.. so I just need the housing (which I have asked Santa for!) to be able to take the plunge (excuse the pun) into the UW world of photography.

anyway..... getting to the point:

What I am interested in is some pointers for getting started with UW photography, such as:

1) Any training exercises I can do to develop my existing (but limited) photography skills in an underwater environment.

2) Specific UW tips for using a G9 to get the best out of it.

3) Suggestions on other pieces of kit to enhance my G9 setup.

4) Any online (or offline) resources you would recomend reading as a beginner.

5) If anyone here dives at Capernwray I would be really interested in coming along to see how it's done

Sorry for the lengthy post, but as it's my first contribution I thought I'd give it a bit of depth (sorry, that's the last pun, I promise!)

Thanks in advance for any advice

Michael

Hi,

IMHO the ultimate place to start is here: http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/underwat...otography-guide

once you understand the concept and "language" you will be able to search Google and wetpixel for specific questions...

Good luck! :-)

3) Suggestions on other pieces of kit to enhance my G9 setup.

The basic add-ons (beyond the underwater housing) are:

1) underwater strobe and strobe arms to position it

2) macro adapter that can be added to the underwater housing

3) wide angle adapter that can be added to the underwater housing

4) focus light to mount to the housing

5) a second strobe and strobe arm

And that's the order in which I would purchase them, although of course opinions will vary.

You could always try going along to the next meeting of the Northern Underwater group who meet in Manchester (I think). If you are a little further south then there is also the East Midlands Underwater Photograhpy group (EMUP) who meet at Stoney Cove. The Northern lot are meeting tonight so you may be a little late for that one. EMUP is next week. They are a very helpful group geared for beginners as much as advanced.

If you fancy a course then Maria Munn does courses for compact users that are meant to be very good. I know that she recently taught someone who prompt one BSoUPs best beginner a few months later.

Daniel

Thanks chaps,

@lightydo - Thanks for that, looks like a good resource, I'll take a look.

@davelew - Do you have a housing recommendation? My instructor recomended the Ikelite which I was going to go with, but Cannon do there own housing too. Are the strobes, lenses etc.. that you suugest compatable with both or should I research these before making a housing decision?

@DDT uk - I work till 6-7 most weekdays, so attending groups is always a little problematic, and I live about an hour north of Manc, but I'll look into it.

Thanks for the replies so far. I have been on a lot of forums and the community spirit on here is very positive in comparison. More posts to come

Hi Michael!

First of all make WetPixel You'r browsers homepage

1) Any training exercises I can do to develop my existing (but limited) photography skills in an underwater environment.

This is a thing I did, and helped me a LOT!!! Talk to the PADI dive center folks where You did Your OWD and AOWD for a small deal. They will let You in to the pool with new OWD course students so You could take pictures of them. You will get a great possibility to practice UW photography as well develope more You'r (probably allready good) boyancy skills. They in return get You'r pictures and share them with the students - good advertisement for the dive center as well.

2) Specific UW tips for using a G9 to get the best out of it.

I don't think there are no specific tricks, but maybe someone would like to add in here

3) Suggestions on other pieces of kit to enhance my G9 setup.

I preferred Ikelite housing with Ikelite substrobe, wide angle lens and macro lenses.

If You want something more out of You'r UW photography then just the housing is nearly not enough IMHO. One strobe for starters and some lenses should do the trick.

4) Any online (or offline) resources you would recomend reading as a beginner.

Online reading - well You are here allready Just learn to use the search motor, and You have tonns and tonns of information.

Offline reading - many have considered this as one of the best books about UW photography. Martin Edges "Underwater Photographer". In a few weeks the fourth edition should be out, so I suggest getting one of those and work with it. Helped me to get started

And the main thing - have fun!!!

Hope to see You'r results here soon enough!

Karel

Hey Mike-great to see you on here!

In terms of practise, take pictures! The better you know your camera, the better your conversion to UW will be. Experiment and get familiar with your manual settings-these are the ones that you will be using mostly underwater. Take pictures in bright sunlight, and low light-in short take lots of pictures and really get to know how your camera processes images. Once you have taken them, get them into the software of your choice. Experiment with settings, especially white balance ones. Critique your pictures for exposure, composition etc, Even better, get someone else to do it!

For information, these forums are a fantastic starting point. There is so much information and advice given so freely, that it can be a bit daunting at first, but as we discussed last weekend, one of the unique features of this forum is the spirit of co-operation that exists. I have a copy of Martin Edge's book you can borrow, until ed 4 comes out next month-then get one!

In terms of gear, you know my feelings! Most P&S housings are designed for fairly basic use, the ikelite ones will let you go wherever you want with great add ons etc. In my opinion one of the best accesories in terms of valua for money, are magic filters. OK if you get much below 10m, then a strobe starts being more critical, but filters are fantastic for learning how light works underwater, and for getting some great shots too. I would suggest a green water one for Capers, and a blue water for Egypt next May!

Hope that helps!

Adam

A couple of things:

Go diving! Think about practising accurate bouyancy control all the time: playing in a swimming pool with a diving club (take a camera and a plastic flower or something that floats about 18" above the bottom, then try to photograph it without touching the bottom), for instance. Hunt the fish in Capernwray, see how close you can get...

Get Martin Edge's new book, or Maria Munn's new book, when they finally appear around Christmas-time...

Don't get discouraged: I used to do monochrome prints and Cibachrome landscapes, but it only took me nine years to make an underwater photograph that I actually liked! Digital should let you bring that down to about nine weeks, or nine dives, as you can see what's happening in the water - just ignore about 9/10 of what you already know!

Tim

In August 2005 I started my own company and for the next three years had a very limited life which basically involved working, thinking about work and dreaming about other things (whilst at work)! On new years eve 2008, with the business now going well, I made a new years resolution to do at least two things I have always wanted to do but never been able to. Learn to ride a motorbike and learn to scuba dive...

 

and so starts 2009.

 

On a frosty January morning I deforsted the car and went to my local dive school at Capernwray in the UK (top place if you haven't been) and signed up for my PADI open water. Ok, so it wasn't quite the Maldives but I'd made a start and was really enjoying it. Over the year I proceeded to do my Advanced Open Water and i'm currently studying for my Rescue Diver qualification. I'm now at the stage where I have nearly hit the big 50 in my dive book and after an awesome trip to Egypt this summer I am keen to take my diving a little further.

 

I did my degree in Film Making and Photography (allbeit 5 years ago, with little if any practice since I graduated) so UW photgraphy seems a good natural progression. I already have a Cannon G9 which I use when on holiday, at events etc.. so I just need the housing (which I have asked Santa for!) to be able to take the plunge (excuse the pun) into the UW world of photography.

 

anyway..... getting to the point:

 

What I am interested in is some pointers for getting started with UW photography, such as:

 

1) Any training exercises I can do to develop my existing (but limited) photography skills in an underwater environment.

2) Specific UW tips for using a G9 to get the best out of it.

3) Suggestions on other pieces of kit to enhance my G9 setup.

4) Any online (or offline) resources you would recomend reading as a beginner.

5) If anyone here dives at Capernwray I would be really interested in coming along to see how it's done

 

Sorry for the lengthy post, but as it's my first contribution I thought I'd give it a bit of depth (sorry, that's the last pun, I promise!)

 

Thanks in advance for any advice

 

Michael

hi my names A.J , l am a padi instructor , upon reading your mail, l think best bet for you is to get loads of practice on your bouyancy and dont get to carryed away with your camera.

try useing a spoon and a ping pong ball and put the spoon up side down and swimming along, not letting the ball get away .

have fun . A.J