New Diver - New Camera

[ZenDiver]

When I first started out I used a red filter instead of a strobe or flash because it was alot cheaper than a strobe. On night dives I used a flash light and edited out the dark corners....=)....ahh...those were the days. I was surprised at the colors I got out of my pictures without digital effects with the red filter. Its cheaper than a strobe by far. I also recommend using Adobe Photoshop or something comprable to help adjust the colors in your pics. You will be surprised what these kind of programs can do to make your pics look pretty good. No matter if you get a strobe or not, when you get your camera, get down there and start taking pictures. Evaluate your pics and make adjustments or read more. I have learned so much over the years just by experimenting and making little adjustments here and there.

I use a Oly 5050 with a Oly housing and a INON strobe today and other than shutter delay in the 5050 I am very happy with the equipment.

Remember, unless your trying to win contests, your family and friends, that are not too bored looking at your pics will think there great no matter what, especially since you will only show them the top 5 percent of the 1000's of photos you will be taking.....LOL

Have fun and watch your gauges and your buddy. Photographers can be the worst dive buddies, myself included.

 

[f3nikon]

Any and all suggestions as to how to put together my underwater package would be greatly appreciated. After that help any help in how to take great underwater photos will be my next post.

Thanks.[/QUOTE]

Learn all about land photography and your camera before you take it in the water. Learn about bracketing exposures, rule of thirds, balancing daylight with strobe lights, understand your equipments limitations.

On land, place a cheap manual external flash on your camera's hot shoe, set the camera settings on manual and start taking pictures of plants, animals etc. Taking careful notes on the subject distance, shutter and aperature settings and what effect they will have on the exposure when you vary them up and down.

This important step needs to be fully mastered before even thinking about TTL (thru the lens)

This is just one of many steps.

Regards