Is rear inflation better for underwater photography?

[Damselfish]

"Easier to be horizontal" is often stated as a benefit of back inflates or BP/W which is fine if you want to be horizontal. Photographers (some other people too!) usually want to be in all sorts of positions, not just horizontal. If you're diving warm water with light exposure protection, you'll have little or no air in the BC underwater, so in that case not so much difference where the inflation lives. In cold water where you've typically got more air in there, I'd expect photogs might have a preference for a jacket that isn't encouraging them to be horizontal.

My husband is so into his photography and that equipment, he doesn't care a hoot about BCs. He has a really simple jacket, no trim bias and no clutter in his way.

 

[blueeyes_austin]

Sometimes it's illustrative to look at what the top dogs use.
So I found the ones I could...
Michele Hall - Scubapro Classic stab jacket
Mike deGruy - Scubapro Stab jacket
Doug Perrine - Seaquest Explorer (tropical jacket) / US Divers Sonic 1 (jacket)
Stan Waterman - Scubapro jacket
Marty Snyderman - Scubapro Glide Plus (jacket)
Howard Hall - Scubapro Stab jacket
Stuart Westmoreland - bare-bones Mares (jacket)
T. Charles Erickson - Oceanic (jacket)
Chris Newbert - Oceanic Contour Bioflex (jacket)
---
Me? For photography I prefer a Seaquest Explorer in the tropics and a Pro-QD in cold water. As for back inflation, I own and use a Transpac, an Aluminum and Fred-T heavy steel backplates; Dive-Rite Travel, Rec and Classic wings... but none of them are as good for photo work as the jackets.
Rick

Wow, just thing how much these strokes could improve their photography skills if they just DIR.

 

[OE2X]

Like anything else in photography it's not the equipment that makes the shot it's the photographer. I get great shots with my Nikons, but I could also can get great shots with a Canon, Leica, Hasselblad or Pentax.

The BCD that you choose to use doesn't matter. It's how comfortable you feel using it. For some that means a jacket and for others like myself that means a BP/W.

 

[RiverRat]

Wow, just thing how much these strokes could improve their photography skills if they just DIR.

What makes you "thing" these divers are "strokes"? Just because they're in a jacket? DIR is nice but there a plenty of "non-DIR" divers that can out dive many DIR "strokes". I was diving a BP/W before I knew what DIR was. DIR just packaged up everything one is supposed to do as a diver anyway. Most of the "DIR" gear is actually a Hogarthian rig. Thought up a long time ago. I agree DIR is a great thing, teaches divers how to really dive, good buoyancy control, good buddy skills, good drills etc. and is an especially good system for tech divers where the risks are very high, but it is not the answer for all diving. Try hauling around the Camera systems Howard Hall does, in strong currents, and actually film a movie. I'll bet his buoyancy control is spot on. Try taking a shot, in a current, inverted while jabbing your finger in the sand to keep from drifting away while you take the shot. Leave the stroke calling to GI.........

 

[Rick Murchison]

Wow, just thing how much these strokes could improve their photography skills if they just DIR.

Leave the stroke calling to GI.........

I think he was being sarcastic...
I hope he was being sarcastic...
Rick

 

[RiverRat]

You're right Rick, my apology if I over reacted. The shutterbug in me went off the "deep end". I gotta stay off SB when I stressed at work

 

[OE2X]

To many of us it is known that BlueEyes is anti DIR. So be it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
If you don't feed the troll they will go away.

 

[RiverRat]

To many of us it is known that BlueEyes is anti DIR. So be it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
If you don't feed the troll they will go away.

So noted Now I'm ducking and running for cover...................

 

[blueeyes_austin]

I was being more sardonic than sarcastic!

I'm actually not "anti-DIR" at all...but I don't see the need to ruin another thread with that debate.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I'm actually not "anti-DIR" at all...but I don't see the need to ruin another thread with that debate.

Then why'd you bring it up? It's really rather off-topic, as the point of the question has nothing whatsoever to do with DIR.

I believe the question was "is a back-inflate BCD better for underwater photography?" ... which your response did nothing to address.

My take is that it depends. What helps your underwater photography is good buoyancy technique and good photography technique. The question only asks about the former ... and if a back-inflate BCD helps you attain better buoyancy control, then it will be better for you. For someone else, the answer may be a different type of BCD altogether.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)