The world under the sea is known to showcase some of the world’s most visually stimulating scenes. The Little Mermaid’s Sebastian, wasn’t kidding when he sang that song. In warmer, shallower regions, colorful corals abounding with beauty, with schools of multicoloured tropical fish swimming around them could be seen. In the colder, deeper portions of the oceans, the giants of the Earth could be seen in their element, in the shape of whales.

All these wonders and beauties are all captured by underwater photographers, who extend their photography skills to the world’s waters, where light isn’t as easy to come by. As light is a known essential factor in photography, in underwater photography, such is a major concern along with others.

The Nature of Underwater Photography and Its Concerns

The premise of underwater photography is quite simple and basic: Take pictures in an underwater environment.

Though it is practically no different from regular photography, which would be the “on dry land” variety, underwater photography has its own kinks and quirks, unique to the craft, combining two different skills into one. These skills would be that of photography know how, and that of SCUBA diving. Snorkelling would be one skill which could be considered to be, should SCUBA diving be out of the formulae. Essentially, underwater photography also requires a bulk of itself on equipment as well, both in the diving and photography aspect of the craft. It is considered to be the most demanding of all photography excursions, considering the subject matter it covers in its scope.

Where SCUBA Diving is Concerned

During the days of World War II, rebreathers which were developed by Dr. Christian Lambertsen of the USA were applied in the war effort. These rebreathers stand to be the roots of SCUBA Diving, which, to today’s standards, are in-line open circuit equipment, where users could inhale air from a tank, allowing them to exhale into the water environment. SCUBA stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

Underwater photographers have to have SCUBA diving, or at the very least snorkelling, experience in order for them to do what they do. Typically, the flowchart in the formation of underwater photographers start with learning SCUBA Diving first, followed by the application and experience of taking pictures underwater. Here equipment plays an essential role.

Underwater Camera Equipment

As the device’s name already speaks for its class, underwater cameras are cameras which could operate underwater. Water pressure, as well as other underwater environment concerns, allow for such cameras to easily operate in such environments, with various restrictions and capabilities, all depending on the type of underwater camera being put in use. Being the second essential equipment type for underwater photographers, the first being SCUBA diving equipment, or snorkelling equipment, underwater photography, along with a photographer’s skill, greatly depends on underwater cameras in taking beautiful underwater pictures.

The Nikonos would be a good example of such cameras being used in underwater photography. The Nikonos is classified as an amphibious camera, or a waterproof camera, which uses the basic lens system implemented in all types of cameras. In 2001, production of the Nikonos went halt, paving the way for more advanced classes of cameras to prevail.

One of the main points why the Nikonos was halted was to pave the way for the digital camera options for underwater cameras. Everyone knows that digital cameras could store more pictures over their film-based counterparts. Considering how much of a hassle things could get should one run out of film, the digital underwater camera option stands to be smarter for serious underwater photographers.

These days, housings which allow for regular digital cameras to be used as underwater cameras could be bought. Just mind the depth levels a camera could dive into. We wouldn’t want to end up with a broken camera, after all.

All in all, these are the basic areas of concern where underwater photography thrives. The next time you get to see some pictures of underwater life, consider the lengths it had to take for such pictures to come your way. You would surely appreciate more these photos.