Marine photography refers to the type of picture taking where images are captured underwater. Although the process may be carried out while swimming or snorkelling, it is often associated with scuba diving. This means a marine photographer must also be an expert scuba diver.
Types of Marine Cameras
There are different types of underwater cameras that suit different people. Those who are just starting out may invest in cheap waterproof disposable cameras. The main difference between these cameras and their ordinary counterparts is the rigid waterproof shell in which they are housed.
Marine photographers must consider pressure when purchasing their cameras. Marine cameras have different maximum depth ratings depending on the amount of pressure they can withstand. Many disposable cameras have a maximum depth rating of between 10 and 18 metres.
More experienced marine photographers may use regular cameras housed within special watertight casings. The cameras are re-usable and allow for greater depths. They may either be digital or use films.
There are also specialised cameras that can be switched to underwater mode to bring relevant features, interfaces and operation modes.
Challenges
It is generally difficult to capture images of moving objects in any place but the underwater environment makes marine photography even more challenging. If taking pictures of fish, for example, it's not only the fish that’s moving but also the camera used to capture the pictures. The water itself is in constant motion.
Relatively less light reaches underwater, which makes it necessary to use flash. This is one of the greatest challenges in marine photography. The photographer must deal with the problem of reflection and backscatter coming from the numerous particles found in the water.
A good method of overcoming this challenge is to mount the flash a little bit farther from the camera or just using a torch.