How can I get a good split shot?

The methods of shooting a good split mirror include using a large dome, using a fisheye or wide-angle lens, using a high aperture, looking for suitable conditions, and keeping water droplets away from the dome.

1, using a large dome

Whether it is short-term energy or long-term energy, the ocean surface may roll at most diving points. Just like underwater wide-angle photography, a good lens consists of several elements: a powerful top view, a powerful underwater view and a waterline running through the picture. The larger the dome port, the larger the surface area that divides the water and forms the waterline.

The large dome provides more space for the waterline to move up and down on the dome, and it can also divide water. For more advanced shot putters, this enables them to creatively use waterline (straight line and wave angle) and accurate shooting angle (the number of water and underwater scenery).

2. Use fisheye or wide-angle lens.

This is an obvious hint, but it is very important. Don't be afraid to use your fisheye lens for split-shot shooting. Of course, the surface scene may look a little distorted, but sometimes this effect is cool. The waterline often emphasizes the slight warping of the top object. If you don't need the fish-eye distortion effect, you can use the post-processing function to straighten it. Wide-angle lens can also be used in some scenes behind the scenes.

Step 3 Use a large aperture

Shooting a lens is similar to wide-angle photography of scenery and close-up, because you need a great depth of field to keep the focus of the whole image. In most shooting scenes, there is an underwater object (sand, rock, etc. ). The top object in a one-meter or two-meter lens, and anywhere from 3 meters to hundreds of meters away.

Parking in a low F gear (F 16 or F 18) allows you to keep the focus of two scenes, including the water in front of the dome. When shooting with a small aperture, it is very important to closely monitor the shutter speed. To get a clear image, the shutter speed must be 1/60 or above. In order to expose images at a faster shutter speed, ISO often needs to increase the exposure speed.

4, looking for the right conditions

Compared with the bright scene seen above, the water surface is very dark, so we need to find some necessary conditions before deciding to shoot in different shots. The first is the visibility in the water. If the "visibility" is poor, then the underwater objects will not be so detailed, and the result is a boring image.

The second condition is the noon sun. When the sun is overhead, it penetrates and illuminates the water-this is an ideal choice for split shooting. If you shoot early or late in the day, the image should consist of the sun somewhere behind the camera, so that the light will fall in front of the scene (as opposed to shooting a bright sun and seeing the outline). You can also use other technologies, such as using a flash.

5. Keep water droplets away from the dome.

No matter how good the split lens is, it will not be used if it is blurred by water drops on the dome port. Spitting on the dome helps to form a spot-free image, which lasts at least a few seconds. Spit, dunk, shoot, repeat. Other photographers have succeeded in sponges or other creative methods. Glass dome is more waterproof than acrylic dome, but the price is much higher.