Specialty of the Month

“I kept shooting the same subject from different PADI say… angles, in portrait and landscape, each time using is one of the most-popular diving Specialties, and with so the PADI ‘SEA’ method (shoot, examine, adjust). many underwater cameras to choose from, it has become easier and more fun than ever I remember thinking to myself ‘I am aiming to capture images of your underwater scuba adventures. The PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course gets you going quickly, whether you at a still target here that isn’t moving’…” use a point-and-shoot camera or a sophisticated DSLR like the pros. Because underwater photography is also popular with snorkellers, there is an option for avid snorkelers and skin divers to complete the course.

For more information about the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course, visit www.padi.com or contact your local PADI dive shop or resort.

PREREQUISITES • Minimum age: 10 • PADI (Junior) Open Water Diver or equivalent qualifying rating ------Digital Underwater Photographer Next month: PADI ENRICHED AIR DIVER

In this instalment of the ovember marks the completion of before diving I was keen to learn as much from During the two dives necessary to complete the those images have been stunning – jeez, they PADI Specialty of the my first year as a PADI diver and them as possible and hopefully pick up some Specialty, the biggest problem I found was must have been so difficult to shoot! what a success it has been. Time useful ‘tricks of the trade’. keeping myself still in the water to focus on our After I had finished the first dive we broke for Month series, PADI has flown by; I have achieved Gearing up at Eccy Delph the following morning, ‘man-made’ . My in the water is lunch and I got some pointers from Nick about Advanced Open Water much more than I ever expected I knew the day’s diving wasn’t going to be good, but I found maintaining a still position where I was going wrong. Once back in the Nto and it’s great to look back through my blessed with great visibility, however, it would while shuffling around trying to adjust camera water, this time with Nick, I took to the ‘reef’ Diver Matt Griffiths photographs and relive all the great occasions I give me the conditions I would be diving in most settings was a whole new challenge in itself. My again and started snapping away. We left the (Sport Diver art director) have been so lucky to have been a part of. From of the time and a more-realistic photography first objective was to manually white balance training platform and I was keen to get among day one I have combined my training with challenge. For all the dives I would be using a the camera, using a white slate, while the wrecks Eccy Delph has to offer and get tries his hand at night posing for pictures to illustrate my articles and I compact camera, housing and a single strobe for underwater. The next lesson was about getting snapping away. By this point I was starting to underwater photography, have always taken it for granted how easy it was lighting. At the surface I spent a few minutes close; when I thought I was close enough to the feel more at home with a camera and for cameraman Nick to get these shots. As I was familiarising myself with the camera’s controls subject, Caroline made me get closer and then, beginning to see the enjoyment you can get quickly realising just how about to find out, it really isn’t easy at all. The once it was in the housing and, most even closer still! I kept shooting the same out of underwater photography and why it is of instructor who has a passion for photography difficult it can be to course’s few hours of self learning covers importantly, making sure it wasn’t leaking. With subject from different angles, in portrait and interest to so many divers. All the time, I was rather than just an interest, to ensure you get photography basics - such as composition, camera in hand I joined Caroline down on the landscape, each time using the PADI ‘SEA’ aware of the need to avoid contact with the most out of this great PADI course. n capture the perfect snap exposure, white balance and file formats - plus training platform to give shooting my first method (shoot, examine, adjust). I remember anything- if this was a reef, I could damage a gear know-how like greasing and inserting underwater photography a go. After the first few thinking to myself ‘I am aiming at a still target delicate environment. I certainly came to NB: Matt’s continued PADI education has been Photographs by O-rings for a watertight housing. Instructors Nick clicks and upon review it was immediately here that isn’t moving’… This made me think understand why this is one of the most-popular supported by Frogfish Photography, PADI EMEA, and Caroline Robertson-Brown pride themselves apparent that achieving great shots underwater back to the many great articles I have designed PADI Specialty courses and I think it is , , DiveLife, and Fourth Frogfish Photography on their underwater photography, so the night is not something you can achieve overnight. for Sport Diver over the years and some of important to complete this course with an Element.

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