Technique/Tutorial

Underwater photo tutorials, techniques and tips for all types of underwater photo and video, including macro, supermacro, wide-angle, composition and best camera gear.

Pro Tips and Instructions for Creating Amazing Underwater Scenes from Two Images
By Francesco Pacienza

How to Use In-Camera Image Overlays

Francesco Pacienza
Pro Tips and Instructions for Creating Amazing Underwater Scenes from Two Images

Image overlays, possible with many modern digital cameras, allows us to work on our photos directly in-camera - a creative direction that doesn’t rely on the use of computers for post-production.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


Tips, Techniques and Settings for Shooting Underwater Sunbursts
By Brent Durand

Guide to Shooting Striking Sunbursts

Brent Durand
Tips, Techniques and Settings for Shooting Underwater Sunbursts

We descend through the water column to explore the underwater world below, but sometimes the most mesmerizing scene is found looking up through the looking glass. Some of my favorite moments underwater have been during full-moon night dives in Malibu, light off, cruising along the reef watching the moon rays dance through the surface of the sea into the water column. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brent Durand is a weekend wanderer and story teller from California.

Brent is an avid diver and adventure photographer, and shoots underwater any time he can get hands on a camera system. He can be reached at brent@uwphotographyguide.com.

Follow Underwater Photography Guide on Facebook or Instagram.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


A look at the best settings for macro and wide-angle underwater photography
By Kelli Dickinson

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Underwater Settings

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Underwater Settings
Kelli Dickinson
A look at the best settings for macro and wide-angle underwater photography

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 is one of the newest cameras to join the popular OM-D line. This little camera sits somewhere between the E-M5 with similar features and body design and the E-M1 with the same improved processor. In addition to a pop up flash (a first for the OM-D line), it offers all the features you'd expect from an OM-D but at a less hefty price tag.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli Dickinson is an avid diver and underwater photographer who shoots primarily on mirrorless cameras. Familiar with a variety of cameras and housings she tries to shoot on as many different options as possible to improve her overall knowledge of underwater camera systems. In addition she is Manager of Bluewater Photo. In her spare time she can be found running, hiking or underwater. 

Connect with her on instagram @kelnkelp or at www.kelnkelp.com

She can be reached via email at kelli@bluewaterphotostore.com.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


A look at the best settings for macro and wide-angle underwater photography
By Kelli Dickinson

Best Underwater Settings for the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Camera

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Underwater Settings
Kelli Dickinson
A look at the best settings for macro and wide-angle underwater photography

Navigation:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli Dickinson is an avid diver and underwater photographer who shoots primarily on mirrorless cameras. Familiar with a variety of cameras and housings she tries to shoot on as many different options as possible to improve her overall knowledge of underwater camera systems. In addition she is Manager of Bluewater Photo. In her spare time she can be found running, hiking or underwater. 

Connect with her on instagram @kelnkelp or at www.kelnkelp.com

She can be reached via email at kelli@bluewaterphotostore.com.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


A look at the best settings for macro and wide-angle underwater photography
By Kelli Dickinson

Best Underwater Settings for the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Camera

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Underwater Settings
Kelli Dickinson
A look at the best settings for macro and wide-angle underwater photography

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli Dickinson is an avid diver and underwater photographer who shoots primarily on mirrorless cameras. Familiar with a variety of cameras and housings she tries to shoot on as many different options as possible to improve her overall knowledge of underwater camera systems. In addition she is Manager of Bluewater Photo. In her spare time she can be found running, hiking or underwater. 

Connect with her on instagram @kelnkelp or at www.kelnkelp.com

She can be reached via email at kelli@bluewaterphotostore.com.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


An overview of GoPro mounting options on trays, handles and poles, with additional tips on housing maintenance
By Brent Durand

GoPro Underwater Housing and Mount Tips

GoPro Underwater Housing and Mount Tips
Brent Durand
An overview of GoPro mounting options on trays, handles and poles, with additional tips on housing maintenance

GoPro cameras are becoming more and more prevalent on dive boats around the world, and for good reason - they shoot excellent video in a small, affordable package.

Here at the Underwater Photography Guide, we're continuing our GoPro tutorial series with this installement on GoPro housing use and maintenance, plus all the mount and accessory options to get the most from your camera. GoPro systems are flexible depending on your budget and type of diving, providing a great way to remember those best moments of your trip.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brent Durand is a weekend wanderer and story teller from California.

Brent is an avid diver and adventure photographer, and shoots underwater any time he can get hands on a camera system. He can be reached at brent@uwphotographyguide.com.

Follow Underwater Photography Guide on Facebook or Instagram.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


5 Elements you Must Incorporate into your Ambient Light Photos
By Christina and Eusebio Saenz de Santamaria

Tips to Create Striking Ambient Light Photos

Tips to Create Striking Ambient Light Photos
Christina and Eusebio Saenz de Santamaria
5 Elements you Must Incorporate into your Ambient Light Photos

As underwater freedive photographers, we use only ambient light for all our images. At first this was due to practicality, as it is easier to move fluidly in the water without the cumbersome drag of strobes. However, against conventional modes of thought we now prefer to always shoot this way, as using only the natural light available has driven us to be more creative, thoughtful of every frame we capture and has given us a sense of freedom to experiment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

One ocean One breath’ is a creative collaboration between professional freedivers, husband and wife duo, Eusebio and Christina Saenz de Santamaria. Eusebio from Spain is the co-founder of ‘Apnea Total’, one of the world’s largest freediving education systems, and is one of the few men to have surpassed 100 metres (328 feet) in depth in the self-powered disciplines of freediving. Christina, originally from Australia, holds the record as the deepest Australian female freediver in history with dives to 82 metres (270 feet) in depth, and ranked in the top 5 deepest women in the world.

When not teaching or training on their island home of Koh Tao in Thailand, they are exploring the world’s ocean on one breath with camera in hand, learning and discovering more about their passions for freediving, underwater photography and filming.

For more information, please visit their websites:

www.oneoceanonebreath.com

www.apneatotal.com

ALSO BY CHRISTINA & EUSEBIO SAENZ DE SANTAMARIA

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


A Tutorial on Capturing Sharp Eyes and Nice Bokeh in your Underwater Photos
By Brent Durand

Macro Methods: Sharp Eyes and Nice Bokeh

Brent Durand
A Tutorial on Capturing Sharp Eyes and Nice Bokeh in your Underwater Photos

 

Macro Methods: Sharp Eyes and Nice Bokeh


A Tutorial on Capturing Sharp Eyes and Nice Bokeh in your Underwater Photos

Text and Photos By Brent Durand

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brent Durand is a weekend wanderer and story teller from California.

Brent is an avid diver and adventure photographer, and shoots underwater any time he can get hands on a camera system. He can be reached at brent@uwphotographyguide.com.

Follow Underwater Photography Guide on Facebook or Instagram.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


How to Capture Fast-Action Flashing & Attention-Drawing Behavior Underwater
By Mike Bartick

It's All in the Flash

Mike Bartick
How to Capture Fast-Action Flashing & Attention-Drawing Behavior Underwater

Birds do it, fish do it, and even humans beings do it. If you’re trying to attract a mate, sometimes it’s just impossible to find the right words, so body language has to do all the work. In the animal kingdom, the body language of your subject might be just a quick movement, subtle and even undetected to the human eye, while others flash gaudy and unmistakable displays (such as a peacock), which can be seen from deep space.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mike Bartick is an avid and experienced scuba diver and Marine Wildlife Photographer. He has an insatiable love for nudibranchs, frogfish and other underwater critters, and is the official critter expert for the Underwater Photography Guide. Mike is also one of the UWPG trip leaders. See more of his work at www.saltwaterphoto.com.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


All the Essentials you Need for Underwater Video with your GoPro
By Scott Gietler

Must-Have GoPro Accessories Video

Must-Have GoPro Accessories
Scott Gietler
All the Essentials you Need for Underwater Video with your GoPro

Bluewater Photo has put together a great video discussing all the different options available to scuba and freedivers for their GoPro cameras. Browsing through all the accessories can be intimindating, especially if you're a new video shooter and not familiar with what these accessories do.

This is exactly why Bluewater Photo put this video together. It's been on their YouTube channel for a few weeks, but we're publishing it here on UWPG for everything looking at those last-minute accessories before the holidays.

Enjoy!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Scott Gietler is the owner of Bluewater Photo, Bluewater Travel, and the Underwater Photography Guide. Bluewater Photo, based in Culver City, CA is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious underwater camera stores, serving many thousands of customers each year, where nothing is more important than customer service. The Underwater Photography Guide is the world’s first website to feature free tutorials on underwater photography, and has become the most trafficked resource on underwater photography worldwide. Bluewater Travel is a full-service dive travel wholesaler sending groups and individuals on the world’s best dive vacations. 

Scott is also an avid diver, underwater photographer, and budding marine biologist, having created the online guide to the underwater flora and fauna of Southern California. He is the past vice-president of the Los Angeles Underwater Photographic Society, has volunteered extensively at the Santa Monica aquarium, and is the creator of the Ocean Art underwater photo competition, one of the largest underwater international photo competitions ever held in terms of value of prizes. He lives in California with his wife, newborn girl and scuba-diving, photo taking 4 year old son.

Follow Scott on Facebook or Instagram.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


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