Inside the Life of an Aquatic Photographer

Alan Wulfe is seen by many as an underwater adventurer who spends his free time exploring the deep and filming a world few are fortunate enough to witness with their own eyes. His day job as the SVP of Alamo Aircraft LTD in San Antonio keeps him busy but he has made sure to make room for his aquatic photography passion. While he started with standard underwater photography, he quickly added video to his repertoire and has found combining the two mediums has taken his storytelling skills to an entirely new level.

For more than 35 years, Alan has pursued his passion for traveling in pursuit of aquatic discoveries. Alan is a dive instructor and his enthusiasm has spread throughout his family. “My wife and all four of my children have their open water certifications,” he says. He has also been generous in sharing his discoveries with his community.

“I regularly share my work with some middle school and high school science classes in Austin and San Antonio,” Alan says. “They enjoy seeing aquatic life and the videos help them learn in a fun and interactive way.” In addition, Alan’s videos are used as teaching aides for Texas State University’s underwater photography course.

Alan’s unique perspective is one that he’s happy to share with other shutterbugs who are just venturing into aquatic photography. When asked what are some of the most common missteps beginning photographers make when venturing into the ocean, he says, “One of the most common mistakes people make when starting is to buy the under $50.00 camera. I currently use a “Lights n Motion” housing and video lights with a Sony HD Video Camera for both video and still shots, but I have used Nikons, Sea & Sea and Sea Life for stills.”

When it comes to technique, Alan advises, “Another common mistake is not understanding how color is lost when light is diminished as you go deeper or further away from your subject. Shooting down on a subject gives poor results while a straight on or up shot with the sun or flash at the right angle will yield better results. Try to “fin in and zoom out” the “less zoom the better the shot”. Backscatter can easily ruin a great shot.”

Alan has had numerous excursions in fascinating places, so it was tough to pin him down on a favorite location. After careful consideration, he offers, “I’ve had many great adventures starting in the 70’s so it’s hard to pick a few, but Truk Lagoon was incredible because of the history still available underwater and Palau had unbelievable corals and sea life. Little Cayman is always a favorite because it is easy to get to and the diving is always great.” When asked if he has another adventure on the books, he says, “Our next trip is on a live aboard in the Maldives later this year and Fiji in 2011.”

Alan also encourages anyone who has been interested in aquatic photography to get scuba-certified. “It’s never too late to start and what you see underwater will amaze you.”

Aquatic Photography, Part II: Basics of Shooting Underwater

Before you Read, click here If you missed Part I of this segment.

For many photographers, exploring what’s beneath the sea is a natural progression in a desire to expand their skills and experiment with new subjects. It’s important to understand what kind of aquatic photography is appealing to you so that the proper training is completed in advance. For example, there will be different challenges in shooting at 60 feet versus shooting just a few feet below the surface. The following advice refers to underwater photography while scuba-diving (as opposed to snorkeling). Here are a few basic considerations and concepts to help you get started in aquatic photography once you’ve received your scuba certification:

Neutral Buoyancy is Best: There’s never been a better time to be neutrally buoyant than when you’re trying to capture that ideal underwater moment. It’s best to hover without using your fins because, if you’re negatively buoyant, you’ll end up kicking up sand and related debris. Neutral buoyancy will also help you get closer to those shy fish and other nervous sea life. A calm diver in control is far more likely to experience success than one who is constantly adjusting and moving about.

Use Strobes to Compensate for Color Loss: As you dive deeper into the water, the sunlight wavelengths of red, orange, and yellow are the first to disappear, rendering images with a cool, flat appearance. In order to compensate for color loss, photographers find a flash or strobe critical to bringing back rich hues and textures in their images.

Get Close Whenever Possible: When it comes to shooting underwater subjects, fill the frame whenever possible. Shooting close and wide will allow you to capture your subject in a more intimate manner and having less water between the subject and camera. Many professional photographers recommend no more than three feet of water between the subject and the lens. This technique will also help your colors remain more vivid and textures more defined.

Patience over the Chase: Patience is a necessity when it comes to doing anything underwater, and it’s even more critical when you’re on the hunt for close-up shots of clownfish. Many novice photographers make the mistake of chasing after fish in an effort to grab a shot before returning to the surface. This method is highly ineffective as the fish are always faster. Patiently waiting for sea life to return may be a challenge but it is the best way to get the image you’ve imagined. There’s a difference between swimming towards a shot and hunting down your subject.

You’ll also need to make sure your dive buddy understands and is willing to be patient as well; the last thing you need is a frustrated dive partner swimming about and kicking up sand when you’re in the mode to wait it out for the shot. Make sure you’re on the same page when working on your initial dive plan so there are no misunderstandings.

Know Your Controls: Experienced divers realize that many of their actions must be instinctive as visibility is limited; they must be able to complete several tasks intuitively. This concept also extends to your camera controls. Make sure that you know where key controls are without having to hunt and double-check as you may end up missing a shot when fiddling with your camera. When shooting underwater, you’ll only need to adjust focus, exposure and your strobe settings. Don’t worry about anything else as you’ll also be managing maintaining neutral buoyancy and composing your shot. Everything else is just a distraction at this point.

If there’s one thing that is similar with both land and aquatic photography, it’s the importance of mastering the basics. You’ll find that your aquatic photography skills improve quickly if you’ve paid ample attention to your foundation.

Straps for Safety: Your camera strap is the first line of defense between your expensive gear and the pavement. Make sure your current strap is in good order and free from fraying and malfunction. We’ve got several high quality straps to help your camera stay secure and in your control.

Keeping it All Together: Professional photographers know that the ability to keep all their gear together and quickly accessible is critical to executing a successful event. One of the most useful tools for working photographers is also one of the most overlooked—the photojournalist vest. The PROMASTER Photographers Shooting Vest has 21 pockets, ranging in size from pen-sized to oversize. The vented back and mesh liner allow free movement of air around the body. The snap epaulets will keep your camera, binoculars, or tote bag straps on your shoulder. The vest includes a heavy-duty zipper that will close the entire front or any portion you wish. It also has a single snap closure for the front and two snap adjustments for the sides. And, our PROMASTER Photographers Shooting Vest is built oversized to accommodate fully-filled pockets.

What is Fast Glass? You may hear photographers tossing around the term ‘fast glass’ but aren’t sure what it means. The term ‘fast’ refers to a wider aperture, which lets in more light and because less light is needed, the shutter doesn’t need to be open as long.

An Introduction to Aquatic Photography: Part I—Getting Scuba Certified

This summer we’re providing a three part series that will cover a number of aspects of underwater photography. Whether you just want to get better underwater shots of your kids in the pool, expand your abilities when snorkeling or become scuba certified in order to shoot fantastic tropical fish and reefs, we’ll explain how to make the most of every situation. In Part I, we’ll cover how to choose the right scuba instructor and dive shop in order to get certification, allowing you the opportunity to begin your underwater photography safari.

Scuba-diving is a sport that conjures up ideas of adventure and treasure-hunting. What many people don’t realize is that it’s also a sport that can be done regardless of being 21 or 61, and for those who’ve always wondered what it would be like to shoot underwater, getting scuba certified is an important required step in reaching that goal.

Scuba-diving can be a bit perplexing because, unlike other sports, there really isn’t a way to dabble in it to see if you like it. But there are ways to decide if this is something you’d like to pursue. If you’re intrigued or interested, here are a few tidbits to help you get started:

Find a Reputable Dive Shop: Get started by doing an online search to find a few dive shops or instructors in your area. Ask about the possible options for courses and the time and equipment commitment needed to get started. Also ask about their certification—the best-known associations are PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors). Inquire about the qualifications of their instructors and about their safety record. And ask what kind of money-back guarantee they have in case an emergency comes up and you’re unable to go through with the entire course.

Don’t Be Shy: If you have any questions, please ask them. Many people who worry they may not be able to learn to scuba-dive are pleased to find once they begin that they’ve discovered a passion for a new sport. There are a few considerations to ponder. For example, if you’re age 40 or over, you’ll need to have a physical first to ensure good health, and those with specific respiratory issues such as asthma will need to first check with their primary physician before continuing.

Get a Buddy: Scuba-diving is considered a social sport and having a friend with you in the class can help in a number of ways. You’ll learn various skills that require two people and you’ll also need a dive buddy whenever you go out after certification, so why not find a friend to join you? If you’re unable to find someone to take the course with you, the instructor will pair you up with someone, giving you an opportunity to make a new friend or two!

Find the Right Fit: Your relationship with your scuba instructor is very important so make sure you find someone with whom you feel comfortable learning. If you find that you’re having trouble relating to an instructor, politely inquire about other classes or options. Professional instructors shouldn’t be offended as they understand that there are some situations where a different instructor is a better fit for a particular client.

It’s important to note that the quality of the photographs you shoot will depend largely upon your skills underwater and how well you handle issues of mastering neutral buoyancy and related diving skills. Once you’ve received your scuba certification, you’ll then be in a position to begin your underwater photography adventures and can even enroll in an underwater photography course.

Getting Great Underwater Photos

Summer means swimming pools and ocean depths, and those fun moments can be photographed even when everyone is wet! Aquatic photography does require a bit more planning and additional equipment, but for those who venture into this form of imaging, the results are well worth the effort.

Many of the same basic photographic principles apply regardless of whether your subject is in the shallow end of a pool or immersed in the Pacific. However, different environments do require different considerations. It’s important to remember safety above all, so make sure that you have the proper training and certification, and always be aware of your environment. Shooting underwater requires learning how to work within certain constraints and limitations such as a confined space, fast moving sea life and limited light.

Consider these tips the next time you consider shooting underwater:

Hone your Diving Skills: If you’re shooting in the deep, you’ll need to be able to keep yourself stable. Buoyancy control is very important in this environment and can have a great impact on the results you achieve.

Keep it Close: You’ll want to shoot your subjects closer than normal. Try to keep the distance less than two feet if possible. The water will ‘swallow’ light and getting well-illuminated shots is far more challenging if you’re shooting from farther away. You’ll also find that color fades the deeper you dive, so this is another consideration. Your flash won’t be as effective either, so try to close the gap between you and your subject.

Enlarge Your Subject: Try shooting upward to better capture your subject. This approach makes subjects appear grander and will allow you to show greater detail as well. This is a powerful technique in aquatic photography that adds scale and dimension to underwater life.

Pool Fun Photos: Try to shoot when the sun is overhead and strong, which is usually between 10am-2pm. This allows you to use the robust light to your advantage. You can also experiment with capturing action dive shots above and below water. Try a few test runs (kids love to ‘cannonball,’ so this shouldn’t be a problem) to make sure your placement allows you to capture the best shots.

Waterproofing Options: If underwater photography is something you’d like to pursue in a regular basis, consider purchasing a waterproof camera. There are a variety of models that can operate in wet conditions without fear of damage. If you prefer to use your existing camera, there are a number of watertight camera housings that will allow you to take your camera into the deep. Stop by our store and we’ll be put together the right solution for you.