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Underwater photo ops
WHAT-TO-DO - FREEPORT/LUCAYA & GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND - JULY 2006
Underwater photo ops
Staying still is the key
Taking memorable underwater photos is not really difficult, say professional divers. It's mostly a matter of controlling your buoyancy and learning to stay still in the watery environment.
There's no lack of subjects for both accomplished photographers and novices, just below the surface of Grand Bahama's warm, clear ocean. Ian Woodcock, dive supervisor at UNEXSO, says the most popular subjects are wrecks, sharks, dolphins and the coral reef itself.
All divers want "a permanent reminder of their special dives," Woodcock says, while fishwatchers want pictures to identify the species they spot, and to show to family and friends back home.
Cameras are available
Don't worry if you don't have an underwater camera, Woodcock adds. UNEXSO has plenty to rent or buy.
And if you're uncertain about any aspect of underwater photography, UNEXSO also offers a short course on how to take great shots.
Many customers pick up disposable cameras for their dives. They're easy to use and they work very well, he says, just "be sure to stay within the depth rating."
Digital cameras are wonderful for underwater work, says Woodcock, because you can check immediately whether you have the shot you want or you have to keep shooting.
Most of the coral heads and reefs around Grand Bahamas are teeming with marine life, especially brilliantly coloured fish that many shutterbugs want to capture. To do that you have to get close to your subject and be careful of the lighting, say the experts.
The best photos of small fish are taken two to four feet from the subject, although longer shots - of sharks, dolphins and wrecks, for example - are also possible, thanks to the clarity of the water around Grand Bahama.
As for the lighting, it's advisable to arrange your shots so that light is striking your subject at an angle. This eliminates the problem of particles in the water reflecting light. On night dives, external strobes are required. "Obviously, better visibility means better pictures," Woodcock says.
To get super closeups, divers can lure fish into camera range by feeding them. One way is to have a friend drop food pellets in front of your lens. When a fish darts in for the bait, it will momentarily fill the frame, setting the scene for a dramatic, professional-looking shot.
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