GETTING Started IN UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY A diver tests the waterproof, shockprooof Olympus Stylus 1030SW at Grand Cayman’s Sandbar HOW UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY CHANGED MY LIFE SHOOT A great PICTURE IN 8 Easy Steps Sponsored by SHARP SHOOTING MADE EASY WITH OLYMPUS www.olympusamerica.com/underwater • www.getolympus.com AS SEEN IN SPORT DIVER MAGAZINE getolympus.com getolympus.com Carla set to work. She slowly finned She could see the improvement in her more good shots and was just beaming. through cavern after cavern taking shots, ability to take a good shot during one Right now, Carla is back home, camera making adjustments, then taking even dive. She couldn’t wait to jump in the wa- in hand, waiting for the next dive – wait- more shots. Pretty soon she was chang- ter again. At this point, Ty turned to her ing to get her Olympus SP-560UZ back in ing scene modes and trying new ways of husband, also a diver, and apologized for the water. She found out what new divers shooting the images of the light beams spending his money: There’s going to be are discovering every day. If you want a dancing in the caverns. She was so ex- a new Olympus camera in the family, Ty good shot, get an Olympus underwater cited about taking photos that she forgot said. Sure enough, as soon as the boat got camera system. There’s no easier way to about her air. When Ty pointed out that back to the dock, Carla and her husband get the shot. they’d been in the water for 65 minutes, visited the famous underwater photog- To see more of Carla and Ty’s she was astounded. The time flew by and raphy guru Cathy Church at her shop on shots from Total Submersion on Grand she didn’t really want to get out of the Grand Cayman. For the rest of the week, Cayman, check out www.sportdiver.com/ water. Carla doubled up on her dive time and carlasunderwaterjourney. To find out Back on the boat, Ty and Carla re- wouldn’t dream of venturing into the wa- more about Olympus underwater viewed her images. Carla was hooked. ter without a camera. She got more and products, visit olympusamerica.com. End of dive End of dive A TRUE Story Beginning of dive The Instant Olympus Underwater Journey Her name is Carla and she’d never Carla couldn’t have been a better test underwater photography journey. delved into the world of underwater pho- case for someone just getting into under- With the camera preset to macro, Ty tography. At a recent PADI Diving Soci- water photography. She loved diving and and Carla hit the Devil’s Grotto. With its ety event in Grand Cayman, called Total wanted to get more out of it. She wanted swim-throughs and wide variety of ma- Submersion, her world changed. She to share the experiences and her explora- rine life, it was the perfect test factory had the chance to test-dive an Olympus tions around the globe with her friends. for a new photographer. At first, every point-and-shoot camera, the SP-560UZ. But she didn’t want to have to invest shot Carla took was blue and flat and a Ty Sawyer, the editor of Sport Diver thousands of dollars in a camera system. bit hazy. She was too far away from her magazine, was there to help her take So, along comes Olympus with an entire subjects. Underwater, things look both 25 on this photo experience by lending a series of cameras devoted to Carla and percent bigger and closer. So Ty showed hand with composition and photography divers just like her. They’ve spent a great her how to ease in patiently to get clos- basics, and by accompanying her on the deal of time developing a combination of er to the subject for a clearer and more Beginning of dive dive. ease of use with sophistication and practi- pleasing image. Once Carla saw the dif- Carla couldn’t have been a better test case for someone just getting into underwater photography. Stylus SW Product Line from Olympus She loved diving and wanted to get more out of it. cality. For Carla, Ty decided to use ference in the bright LCD screen on the the scene mode for her dives. In back of the camera, she was closing the POINT. SHOOT. SHARE. the scene mode, Carla had the gap on every fish she found. As the dive choice of shooting wide-angle proceeded, Carla and Ty came upon some or macro, with two underwater- of the light-filled swim-throughs the Dev- specific settings for each. The il’s Grotto is famous for. So Ty had Carla settings can even be changed switch over from macro mode, which during a dive to best suit the type was perfect for fish portraits but not so Stylus 850SW of encounter. It’s a great place for great for this dramatic wide-angle scene, first-time photographers to start their to wide-angle 2, which turns off the flash. SP-560UZ PT-037 Housing PT-041 Housing PT-043 Housing Stylus 1030SW AS SEEN IN SPORT DIVER MAGAZINE getolympus.com Tips for Successful Underwater 8 Photography Use your camera’s light you have. Light puts color back into the photo. Flash is day- 1 built-in scene modes. light-balanced and provides a great source of light to illuminate The Olympus cameras have incor- your underwater scene. Work on balancing flash exposure with porated “instant expert” modes ambient light exposure to create dramatic underwater photos. Off- that will set your camera to the camera flashes work best because they can be positioned exactly correct settings to achieve beau- where you need them and minimize or eliminate backscatter. tiful underwater imagery starting on your first underwater photo BE PATIENT. shoot. These scene modes incor- 5 Underwater photography is not a race. Many times you will porate underwater wide photog- remain in one place during your dive to get that one spectacular raphy for scenic and underwater shot. Let the marine life get comfortable with you. Remember you landscapes such as wrecks, are a guest in their home, so it will take some time for them to walls, etc., a fast-shooting se- relax with you in their setting. Be patient and wait for the shot; it quential mode for photographing will be well worth it in the end. fast-moving fish and other marine life, and an underwater macro 6 WORK ON YOUR COMPOSITION. mode for shooting those beautiful Shoot upward underwater – it adds drama and a sense of underwater closeup shots that urgency to the shot. Use the rule of thirds, which breaks your you encounter on every dive. camera frame into three horizontal and three vertical lines. Where Many of the cameras also have these imaginary lines intersect is where you want key elements in an underwater snapshot mode your photograph to fall. Shoot at different angles and explore your that will enable proper skin tones subject by shooting multiple frames at different camera positions when photographing your buddies and not taking just one photo of one subject. underwater. EXPOSURE. CONTROL YOUR 7 Work on getting correct exposure. When using scene mode 2 BUOYANCY. the camera is going to set the proper exposure for you. As you get Work on mastering proper diving more comfortable with your camera settings you can use the expo- skills. You always want to respect sure compensation to tweak your exposure and fine-tune your un- the reef while getting your photos. derwater image even more. You can also experiment with setting With proper buoyancy, you will be able to focus on the important your own white balance. Most underwater photographers prefer stuff, like getting the shot. the preset “cloudy” setting when photographing underwater. GET CLOSE, GET CLOSER. 8 PRACTICE AND SHOOT, SHOOT, SHOOT! 3 You are never as close as you think when taking pictures un- The great thing about the digital-camera age is instant derwater. When you think you are close enough, move in closer. gratification. With the advent of high-capacity media cards you Start thinking about getting less water between you and your have the capability of shooting hundreds of images on each dive. subject. Zoom with your feet, not your zoom. Be creative, take chances, experiment. Shoot horizontals and verticals. You will learn from every frame you take, good or bad. USE FLASH. Shoot wide, shoot movement, shoot macro, shoot, shoot, shoot! 4 Flash is your best tool underwater. The deeper you go the less Most importantly, have fun and dive safely. Is an OFFICIAL DIGItaL Photography Sponsor OF PADI DIVIng SOCIETY EVENTS BONAIRE PHOTO SAFARI 2008 August 16-24 UPCOMING EVENT S 10TH ANNUAL TotaL SUBMERSION DIVE FESTIVAL, 2009 SUNSET HOUSE Date TBD Check olympusamerica.com/underwater or PADI.com for additional 2009 PADI Diving Society event dates and locations. www.olympusamerica.com/underwater • www.getolympus.com AS SEEN IN SPORT DIVER MAGAZINE.