Some tips for taking pictures underwater

When you are underwater, you must turn on the computer first. Capturing the picture is the most important thing. You have to stabilize slowly, and then take other detailed pictures slowly after shooting the big scene.

2. Give priority to with wide angle

Generally, telephoto is not needed underwater, because the medium has a great influence, so it is generally necessary to shoot slowly close to the distance. Some big dangerous creatures can only use telephoto. Underwater is still dominated by wide angle, because the medium has less influence and it is easier to capture good pictures.

3. Selection of white objects

Because the underwater color temperature is not standard, the underwater color temperature can easily reach 20 thousand. A very important effect of underwater is that the color will change every meter; When you meet different ocean currents, the color will change. It is suggested that the white balance should be adjusted for almost every shot.

Some photographers use white flippers and white coral ash as whitening objects. Cai Xueliang uses his own buoyancy aid (BCD), because there is a piece of white on it, which can be used as a whitening object, which is very convenient.

4. It's always white.

When shooting underwater, the cameraman should always remind himself to "adjust white, adjust white" in his mind. The underwater camera is now or never. When others are playing, as a professional cameraman, you should use your spare time to adjust the white color to prepare for the appearance of fish.

Diving photography usually goes down to the deepest place and then rises gradually. Don't shoot while diving. Diving to the deepest place is best to shoot with white balance. Before floating, adjust the white balance and keep the camera in a state. If you wait until you see the machine, you will disturb these creatures. If you set the camera in advance and give it to them to shoot at close range, they won't move, so it's important to prepare the camera in advance.

5. The secret of the big scene turning white

Remember this principle, make the color temperature nearby normal, and the display in the distance is always blue, so that the shooting effect is the best. It is difficult to adjust the white balance when shooting big scenes and shooting the prospect of the sea wolf storm. At this time, in order to ensure the normal color temperature nearby, we must let other colors appear in the picture, kick a flipper or put an arm in it, and let some other colors appear in the proportion of the picture, so as to show the color effect in the distance well.

6. Shooting in shallow water.

Shallow water area is an ideal shooting area for documentaries or beginners because of sufficient light. Generally, the water depth of 5 meters is also the depth often chosen by some overseas adventure documentaries.

7. Focus on skills

Underwater shooting generally uses autofocus, and everything is subject to the first shooting, not all manual. Of course, underwater autofocus will be slower because of the medium. Sony PMW-EX 1 can be used for manual auxiliary focusing, and the focal length can be changed by itself on the basis of automation.

Because the autofocus response of underwater shooting sometimes lags behind, we can estimate a distance first and autofocus a focus underwater. When the fish comes, point the camera at the fish to avoid the phenomenon of slow focusing response.

Skills of using waterproof cover

1. Adjust the buoyancy of the shooting equipment.

Adjust the waterproof cover of Gates to a slightly positive buoyancy under water, that is, after the cameraman releases his hand, the shooting equipment can float slowly. The advantage of this is that the cameraman can hold the waterproof cover with both hands when shooting, and can let go once there is danger to ensure his own safety. If you shoot with a professional SLR camera, it is recommended to adjust the waterproof cover to a slight negative buoyancy, that is, it feels sinking, because underwater photography is more sensitive to the photographer's creative shooting.

Use red film

When you dive below 20 meters, the color temperature is beyond the camera's recognition range. At this time, you should add the red film that comes with the waterproof cover. According to the filtering principle of photography, red film can filter out part of blue and let red light pass through, so that the color temperature returns to normal and the color is more realistic. Remember to adjust the white balance after the red film. After using the red film, the image will inevitably fade.

Adjust the display

Because there are many media influences underwater, there is a color difference between what I saw and what I actually shot when I was shooting underwater, so the display in Gates' waterproof cover is very important for shooting. Before launching, it is necessary to calibrate the colors of the camera and display, and the display should be a little brighter, because the brightness seen by the eyes will be lost after passing through seawater, mirrors and other media underwater.

4. Equipment maintenance

After each use, the waterproof cover must be cleaned in the clear water pool. The best way is to soak for a while instead of just washing. In addition, dozens of internal and external sealing rings should be lubricated with silicone oil to keep them moist and prevent cracking. When the waterproof cover is not used, it should be stored in a sealed box, and the battery connected to the monitor should also be taken out.