Constructing Straightforward and Sturdy Compositions
Improving Composition in Wide-Angle Underwater Photography
Underwater photography presents unique challenges, but with the right strategies, you can create compelling and well-balanced images. Here are some core techniques to enhance your wide-angle underwater compositions:
Control the Background
When framing your shot, position your camera to minimize clutter or distracting elements. Aim to isolate your subject or include complementary backgrounds that enhance the story. Wide-angle lenses capture more than you might initially expect, so watch carefully for what appears at the edges of the frame [1].
Fill the Diagonals
Placing interesting foreground elements close to the lens along strong diagonal lines helps lead the viewer's eye through the image towards the main subject or background features, creating depth and dynamic energy [1].
Study Your Subject and Location
Understanding typical marine life behavior, currents, light patterns, and how the landscape or coral formations can frame or balance your composition helps anticipate good photographic opportunities and positioning [1].
Be Ready for the Unexpected
Sea life is often unpredictable, so always be prepared to adjust your framing, focus, and exposure quickly to capture transient moments or unexpected interactions [1].
Use Your Dive Buddy
Coordinate positioning and communication with your dive buddy to create cleaner compositions or highlight subjects. Your buddy can assist in signaling, positioning, or even helping to remove distractions or suspend particles that would harm image quality and composition [1].
Aim for Black and White
Emphasize shapes, lines, and contrasts in underwater scenes without the distraction of color by choosing black and white. This can be particularly effective when strong contrasts or textures are present in your wide-angle images, giving them a timeless, graphic quality [1].
Additional tips include:
- Using apertures around f/8 to f/11 for wide-angle underwater shots to maximize sharpness and depth of field, ensuring both foreground and background are well rendered [1][3].
- Positioning important elements according to the rule of thirds but being flexible to break this rule when it benefits the composition's balance and impact [1].
- Paying attention to light placement (natural or strobes) as wide-angle shots capture large areas, and lighting contrast can influence how background and subjects appear [1].
- Maintaining excellent buoyancy control to avoid stirring sediment that can clutter the image and reduce clarity [5].
These techniques together help create compelling, well-balanced wide-angle underwater compositions that fully exploit the unique challenges and opportunities of the underwater environment [1][3][5].
Remember, some shot composition options may not be available on every dive, but keeping options in mind on every dive can enhance photo opportunities. Clear blue water surrounding a subject can help it stand out, while a sandy bottom can work as a great background. Paying attention to animal tendencies and the direction of the sunlight can help put the photographer in the best position for shot composition.
Lastly, it's important to keep an open mind and watchful eye to be ready for other opportunities, fast actions, and unique behaviors. The Rule of Thirds concept is important in image composition, with the portion of the image with the most interest usually in the 2/3 area of the image. Combining diagonals with the horizon line of the water surface or sea bottom is a helpful technique.
