Underwater portrait shooting skills

Underwater photography is not easy, hard, time-consuming and expensive. Here are some techniques for underwater portrait shooting, hoping to help everyone!

1. Accept new things.

Underwater, everything is different. For example, the photographer's experience, the intensity of light is six times that of land (also depends on the depth and distance from the model), because photographers and models are also in zero gravity, and their equipment and clothes will be difficult to control, so no matter how many years they have taken pictures, they may feel like novices for the first time.

2. Don't be cheap when buying underwater equipment.

I bought three different kinds of cheap waterproof bags and also used professional waterproof hard shells. The shooting effect of the former is very unsatisfactory. She said that the waterproof shell can't be saved at all, because when the camera lens in your hand is worth tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands, a little water leakage can have disastrous consequences and affect the image quality. Therefore, waterproof equipment is not a project of "I will play upgrade first if I really want to shoot underwater".

It is suggested that if you just want to have fun, you can consider buying GoPro or renting waterproof equipment, and then see if you like underwater photography.

3. Understand clearly that different water quality is different.

The situation of swimming pool, sea and freshwater lake is different, and the density of water is also different. For example, the model's eyes may not adapt to the chlorination pool, and there may be dangerous creatures such as jellyfish and garbage in the sea. Freshwater lake is the place she recommended. There are several kinds of swimming pools. She said that she would only shoot in seawater swimming pools, not in chlorinated swimming pools.

4. Use wide-angle lenses more.

The closer you are to the subject when shooting underwater, the better. If it is too far away, the picture may become blurred because of the turbid water. But it also depends on the shooting content.

5. learn to sink.

The key to staying underwater is not to hold your breath, but to let all the air out. The less air in the lungs, the less buoyancy, which sounds terrible, but you will soon learn how to use limited oxygen. The more times you do this, the longer you stay. Of course, if you shoot at the bottom of the sea, you have to use diving equipment.

6. Be patient with the model

It is extremely difficult to make a good expression underwater. They can't breathe and have to shoot beautifully, but they can't see the camera clearly and don't know what you are doing/thinking about her, so give them enough time to get used to modeling.

For most models, the photographer will first let them practice sinking underwater and teach them to breathe out oxygen. When the model thinks it's okay to sink underwater, he will guide the action or expression. But these things should be said before going into the water, otherwise you can't talk underwater.

7. Learn to shoot quickly

Even if the water is not cold, underwater photography is very tiring, especially when the model has to make various poses underwater, and the water will get into his nose and ears, which is very tiring. Photographers will prepare bottles of drinking water and some dry food to eat during breaks. Similarly, if you soak in water for too long, your skin may start to wrinkle, and your makeup may fall off ... So for the sake of shooting effect, shoot as soon as possible.

8. Ideally, there will be a large number of assistants.

It may be dangerous to shoot underwater, especially when the model is wearing a skirt with a lot of cloth and can't organize it by herself. She needs the help of others, and having an assistant to look after her on the water can also ensure everyone's integrity. Assistants can also handle lighting and adjust equipment. This will be more efficient.

9. Accept the post-production system

When underwater photos or films come out directly, colors and the like will be very unsatisfactory, but sometimes it's not the lights or cameras, but the wonderful pictures we see on the Internet, which are actually post-produced. Such as mixing colors and removing impurities, strange reflections, bubbles, etc. So make the picture well before considering the equipment.