When did you start?

[Beefer 0]

I can't wait to dive in (pun intended) to underwater photography, but I haven't even gotten my dive certification yet. I'm wondering if I'd be putting myself in a precarious position by not only familiarizing myself with breathing/being underwater, but trying to take photos at the same time. Any comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks from the

[deepsea 0]

Hi

 

I am sure that many people will write to you about this topic and some may share different views, but this is what I think is best for you, your photographs and the marine environment. I am both an instructor and photographer.

 

Learning to dive is just short 4 day course which will give you all the basics and safety in becoming a diver, but that is not the end of the learning curve. Buoyancy and being able to control it can come naturally to some, however for most people with good instruction will take a number of dives to be able to be competent at it.

 

Photographer and video relies heavily on good buoyancy, and also on being comfortable and safe in the water. We are not wanting people to lie on corals whilst they get their photos as this destroys reefs and is not what it is about.

 

So my advice to you is learn to dive, dive as often as you can for at least 20 dives before you consider taking photography. When you learn to dive your air consumption can be quite quick and again as practice and competency with your buoyancy comes, your air consumption will get better as well. Photography takes a lot of concentration, and you need to home in your skills to the safety first, otherwise god forbid you don't watch your gauges and run out of air.

 

Good luck in your dive course, I hope you enjoy it

[diver dave1 23]

I agree with deepsea. I could not have said it any better.

[Scubamoose 0]

Deepsea You really sayd it all !!

I remember my OWS Instructor once told me that the right time to start UW photography is then, when You feel for a need of something "extra" while diving. That is usually the moment I think Deepsea ment when You feel comfortable enough with You'r self (buoyancy control, checking cauges etc. etc) and You have time (and ability) to focus on other tasks. Now pick up the camera and shoot away!!

 

Cheers

Scubamoose

[Alex_Mustard 0]

I agree with the guys posts above. Underwater photography requires good diving skills, adding a camera too early will mean at best poor photos and at worse greatly increasing risks to yourself, your buddy and environment.

 

From me, however, such a statement is hypocritical. I started taking pictures underwater many years before I was diver. Starting our with a Minolta Weathermatic that took 110 film and then over 4-5 years moving on to another Minolta, this time the 35mm one. I learned underwater photography while snorkelling and I guess that promoted my interest in available light photography. In any case my interest was always in underwater photography, rather than the diving. Although back then I was much more interested in ID style photography, than producing beautiful images.

 

I was doing so much photography like this, that I had progressed to a Nikonos V and strobe (35mm lens) before I did my certification. I had done try dives and resort course by that point and knew diving was going to be a big part of my future. But none of my family dived. So I didn't do my Certification until I was 14. I also had a Nikonos V and strobe on my first dive after I was certified. Of course, I was relying on my father to pay for all this - and snorkelling didn't cost anything. SO I did a lot of snorkelling photography in those days. Thinking back I must have stood out quite a bit on the dive boats. Being there on my own as a teenager, with a Nik V. It wasn't until about 3-4 years later I owned my first regs and BC.

 

So that is how is started for me. Although I would not claim it is textbook.

[aussie 0]

I also agree with the posts above. Too many times I've seen new divers (I'm talking straight out of their OW course) with cameras with terrible bouyancy banging into and kicking reef and smaller critters, doing a lot fo damage. Take the time to get comfortable in the water, that way you'll end up having a lot more fun when you do introduce a camera, and your photos will reflect that.

 

Alex raised an interesting point, of always being an uw photographer rather than a diver. I was talking to Eric about this the other day, mentioned that while the photography side has become a real interest for me, I still consider myself a diver first and just love being underwater. How many on here consider themselves a photograher first rather than a diver, and vice versa?

 

Cheers,

Ryan.

[stewsmith 14]

I have seen too many times whilst travelling divers with very bad bouyancy with cameras in their hands ( mainly Japanese ), whether it is a P & S or a full on DSLR rig.

 

Firstly you have to be confident with your own skills. Plenty of pool practice will get you used to this. Do the AOW course too and then do the peak performance course. Ask other divers too, ask your instructor. Ask them if they feel that you are ready to move on to carrying a camera with you.

 

If you cannot position yourself inches from the reef without sculling with your hands then you are not ready. Actually, if you need to use your hands for control, then you are not ready anyway. When taking UW photos you have to be exremely close to subjects otherwise you end up with photos that are not very appealing.

 

You also need to be comfortable with having a rig in your hand and deploying a DSMB whilst in a current. You might not have to do this on every dive but you do need to be able to do it, because you will need to do it at some point. What you dont want to do is put yourself in any danger because of multi tasking.

Try to do as much varied diving as possible, its ok being great at diving in swimming pools and lakes where there is no current, its a whole new ball game when you add a current into the equasion. Also concentrate on your breathing, as has been said in an earlier reply.

 

Have fun, Stew

[ce4jesus 1]

Minolta Weathermatic

That really makes me feel old. Now if we could only get you to post a few of those!!

 

I just started diving in 2005. Started carrying a digital P&S underwater on about my 25th dive in 2006. Camera's add task loading and give you one more thing to be concerned with underwater. You want to make sure you're completely comfortable underwater before adding anything else that might distract you.

 

Cheers

Gary

[DiveMasterMark 0]

I, too, have a confession. I convinced my instructor to allow me to take my first camera (Nikonos III & a Stroboflex) on the second day of open water certification dives.

 

I can't recommend that, however. As pointed out several times above, get good training, get certified, and spend as many dives as necessary becoming comfortable in the water and honing your bouyancy skills. This will greatly improve your performance once you add a camera rig to your dives, and increase both your results and your enjoyment.

 

Best wishes to you, and welcome to a very addictive passion.

[vetdiver 8]

Deepsea You really sayd it all !!

I remember my OWS Instructor once told me that the right time to start UW photography is then, when You feel for a need of something "extra" while diving.

 

This sums it up perfectly to me. I had been diving for 12 years and had completed approximately 750 dives before I ever picked up a camera...but I had dabbled in some other stuff to advance my interests, such as tech/cave training, which has now fallen by the wayside. Obviously, I don't think anyone needs to wait that long - UW photography never interested me until my husband handed me a camera (um, he regrets that now). You need to feel comfortable in yourself and your abilities first - as the saying goes - the ocean is trying to kill you every time you get in it. Buoyancy is a whole other issue - no matter how much we'd like to think we will never touch anything, I am sure everyone here can relay at least one tale where they got excited about something UW and then BAM....it is hard enough to maintain proper buoyancy sometimes when you have years of experience. Give yourself the opportunity to learn first - about skills and safety, as well as about the biology of the areas in which you're diving.

 

In short - UW photog may kindle your interest, but rare (completely fictional??) is the person who becomes a better diver when they carry a camera!!!!

 

Allison

[Deep6 7]

Interesting thread (and sub thread). My first salt water dive (Aug 1975) was at John Pennecamp Park in Fla. I had a Richon range finder camera and a Vivatar strobe in ikelite housings in hand. BUT, I had spent the pervious 3 months diving in murky Texas lakes every weekend I could. I completely agree with mastering (or at least competent) diving skills first, then adding photography.

 

As for the question of whether I am a diver first or an underwater photographer. I could count on one hand (if fuzzy memory serves) the number of dives that I have done over the last 33 years without a camera. That said, I consider myself a diver first, but I wonder if I would have continued to dive without the photography.

 

Regards,

Bob

[E_viking 30]

If you are honest to yourself, you will know when you are ready!

 

You should achieve this calm and relaxed feeling while diving. Then you are ready. It is impossible to say how many dives you wíll need until you have reached that feeling while diving. For some it takes 10 dives, for other a couple of hundreds and some unfortunately never reach that point.

 

So, wait a while and be honest to yourself. Then you will know when you are ready.

 

To start with UW Photography before that feeling arrives, ruins both your dives and your photography.

 

 

Cheers,

Erik