New to UW photography

[ifixedit]

I've just bought a new camera for snapping pics. Can anyone suggest a basic starter/guide book to UW photog?

[cardiver]

WHat camera set up did you get?

[Pez7378]

I've just bought a new camera for snapping pics. Can anyone suggest a basic starter/guide book to UW photog?

There are several suggestions here in this thread

[cardiver]

"The Underwater Photographer" by Martin Edge is also a good read with some great photos.
Like Bob mentioned in past post, if you have a basic knowledge of photography it's best to go out and dive with photog's who's pictures you enjoy.

[Dusty2]

Tell us what you bought. If it is a canon I can give you lots of info

[ifixedit]

I purchased a SeaLife DC800 with external flash. Don't know a thing about UW photography, Yet. Card points are a like cash and I couldn't find tanks through AMEX. [img]

[Dusty2]

For a newbe it should work OK and if you got a really good price on it then what the heck. Enjoy, there are allot of really dedicated photogs here but I don't think any of us are using that rig.

[Burntchef]

Tell us what you bought. If it is a canon I can give you lots of info

i have a sd750 and i would love some info.

[olyvtx]

I have a DC800 camera with dual flast units. It's a pretty good point-n-shoot camera. You'll find in these waters you will mostly be shooting close up.

So:
set the camera to ext. flash auto mode, set the focus to macro focus setting, set the flash to macro flash setting, set the dial on the flash unit to auto and start snapping pictures. Get close to your subject to minimize the particulate matter in the water obscurring the critter.

Additionally, you should use a flashlight so the camera can auto-focus. I have 2 C-8 UK flashlights mounted to a bracket for the purpose of helping the camera to auto-focus AND for shooting video.

PM me if you have any questions and would be more then happy to answer.

[ifixedit]

Olyvtx, Thanks a lot for the guidelines.I'll be diving Titlow this weekend and I'll give those hints a try. I used an Olympus in u/w housing and could never figure out why one pic would work and the next not. Auto focus, no light on subject. thanks again.
jerry

[Dusty2]

Additionally, you should use a flashlight so the camera can auto-focus. I have 2 C-8 UK flashlights mounted to a bracket for the purpose of helping the camera to auto-focus AND for shooting video.

This hold true for all underwater rigs. It is the most common cause of improperly focused photos