Articles, Photo Gear & Techniques

Sunballs: 7 Illuminating Tips to Get Better Shots

Though they are beautiful to see underwater and they add a stunning element to your underwater photos, sun balls can be tricky, as you'll be shooting at the limits of your camera's capabilities. These tips will help you get the most out of your SLR or mirrorless camera.

Fisheye Lens

Sun balls are wide-angle shots. You need to get as close to the subject as you can to get the most amount of light possible from the strobes on the foreground subject.

Canon 5D MKII, Sigma 15mm fisheye lens, ISO 200, f/22, 1/200, Sea & Sea YS-250 Strobes.

Manual Mode

Manual is the best mode to shoot in. Since the camera will be at the limits of its exposure settings, you’ll be better off knowing your settings and being able to adjust as needed.

Low ISO

Use the lowest ISO setting possible on your camera. This will keep the overall exposure down and help pull in the exposure of the sun ball.

A sunball in an underwater image can add interest as a secondary subject. Shot with the Sony A7s.

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Articles, Photo Gear & Techniques

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