What are the skills of underwater macro photography?

What are the skills of underwater macro photography? In order to shoot at a macro range, we need to use a special lens and a waterproof lens barrel. Generally speaking, a macro lens can focus from infinity to the maximum magnification. In addition, the head (about 50mm lens) can also be used in combination with close-ups. But this kind of connecting ring can't be taken off when diving, so the focus of the lens will be limited to a certain range. Let's take a concrete look at the skills of underwater macro photography!

The traditional macro lens has a focal length of 50-60 mm, and the macro lens with a focal length of100105mm or 180/200mm can't give you a larger magnification, but it allows you to shoot a longer distance (provided the magnification is the same). Tracking and photographing those swaying fish has obvious advantages, and sometimes it is even a prerequisite.

skill

There is a significant difference between macro and other shooting, that is, the extended lens barrel increases the distance between the lens and the basement membrane, thus greatly weakening the propagation of light.

People with TTL function now have an advantage because they don't have to calculate the exposure compensation problem. The sensor installed in front of the film can automatically calculate the loss of light and compensate.

It takes a lot of effort to shoot macro manually. If someone has such enthusiasm to try, they should be prepared for underexposure and take the time to study how to compensate.

Focusing is also a problem of macro photography. Entering the macro shooting range, the depth of field will decrease geometrically. Focusing something only a few millimeters at the right distance by manual focusing is really a huge challenge, and the result is often very small out of focus (absolutely devastating), especially in dim light.

Practice shows that for beginners of underwater macro photography, relying on autofocus will make better films, because autofocus is faster and more accurate than any human eye.

Set the camera at? Servo autofocus? (S block) (different cameras may have different labels), and there are two modes of single S focusing and continuous C focusing. In this mode, you will make sure that the focus of your choice is always clear when composing, and press the shutter when the right time comes! If necessary, gently move the camera back and forth to adjust the focal length.

Exposure; expose

In order to make up for the lack of macro depth of field as much as possible, we should try to narrow the aperture. Macro lenses produced by big factories are almost all f32 apertures. In addition, because the long lens barrel of the macro lens increases the distance between the lens and the negative film and increases the loss of light, we obviously need to compensate a lot of light to achieve correct exposure.

Shorter shooting distance can make up for this. It is more suitable to use 100ASA(ISO 100) film, 50/60mm macro lens and a flash with a flash index of 1 1 (GN value).

When shooting with 100mm/ 105mm macro head, the flash output should be doubled. This can be achieved by using two lamps. When shooting with a lens with a longer focal length, you should even consider using the first Three Lamps District.

The same method applies to people who use it? Range finder? Situation. The rangefinder can double the focal length and magnification of the lens to 2: 1.

In actual shooting, the effect of using two or three small macro flash lamps is far better than using an industrial-grade strong light flash lamp. The special macro flash can provide a suitable color temperature of 5600K, so the color reproduction is good and easy to carry and control. Wide-angle flash is used for long-distance lighting, its color temperature is relatively low, and its color tone will be orange or red.

Flash and its position

The traditional macro lighting method is front lighting. Putting the flash directly above the camera can ensure that the subject can have good lighting in most cases.

In some cases, front lighting and side lighting are combined to emphasize some specific functions. For example, the side light can emphasize the gills of sea rabbits, and the front top light can highlight the spikes on the back of stone fish. In order to make the position of the lamp convenient and flexible, the flash should be as small as possible and installed on the lamp arm composed of two short arms.

Just as important as flash lighting is to highlight the main body. It will be a bad thing if a macro photo keeps the audience from finding out which one is the subject for a long time. Therefore, it is very important to separate the main features from the foreground and background.