As underwater photographers, we often take pictures of corals, marine animals and other underwater features. We sometimes forget about photographing divers. This is a shame, as using underwater models can add dimension to our underwater portfolio.
If you’d like to include other divers in your images (and you should), here are a few tips to get you started when it comes to photographing divers.
Plan your shot
Candid shots are fine, but if you want a really high-quality diver portrait, you’ll need to plan it out. Talk to your model and explain what you want, and get a feel for what they want. Ideally, you’ll want to do the shoot somewhere you’ve dived before. This way you’ll be familiar with the topography and know where to aim your camera.
Avoid the fin shot
Planning your shot also means that you’ll be able to position yourself effectively in relation to your subject. Avoid the classic angle of photographing another diver from behind and catching nothing but his or her fins.
Go shallow
If the main focus of the shot is the diver, then aim for shallower water, particularly an area with a sandy bottom. This will provide better light and clearer colors, lending your shots that “James Bond in the Bahamas” feel. And the shallower water allows you more time to take more shots since you don’t have to worry about no-decompression limits. And unless you’re using filters, deeper waters will leave you with the dreaded bluish tint. At shallower depth, especially under a bright, tropical sun, you’ll most likely be able to take good pictures without a flash, so if you don’t have one, this is your chance to take a good photo anyway.
Use a clear mask
Masks with dark skirts cover a large portion of the face, making it even harder to see your subject’s expression and eyes, which are what makes a portrait interesting. When I take photos of people underwater, I always carry a cheap, clear mask in my pocket, and just before we start shooting, I ask the diver switch to their mask for mine.
Go wide
You may be taking a close-up, but if you have one, stay with the wide-angle lens or the widest setting, if your camera allows you to switch between wide and telephoto. A wider angle will allow you to come closer to your subject while still capturing them in their entirety, or to capture some of the background in the frame as well.
Think about the background
Just because this is a portrait doesn’t mean that the background isn’t also important. Avoid having other divers in the background, as that usually clutters up the composition. What your background should be depends on what you want to achieve. If you want a dramatic feeling, a deep, blue ocean works well and also adds calm to the composition. A colorful reef can show the beauty of the location. But it also adds clutter, so make sure that your diver stands out enough. A white, sandy bottom works well, too, but be careful that it doesn’t get overexposed.
Add something to the foreground
Sometimes, letting something get in the way can be a great way to add a new, creative angle to a shot. A cool-looking ocean animal positioned between you and the subject can lend your image perspective and novelty. A fairly stationary animal, such as a batfish, works well. Make sure the focus is on the diver or, ideally, on both diver and animal. To make this happen, the diver must be close to the animal. Please, choose benign creatures and remember never to disturb an animal to get that “perfect shot.”
