Recommendations for Underwater Photog. Class
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socaldiver
Contributor
That's how I have been doing it. Right now I basically take my point and shoot Reefmaster RC and have at it. Eventually I would like to get into more elaborate (and expensive) equipment, once I get the basics down.
I have been reading the U/W Photography section of the PADI Adventures Dive book and it gives some good helpful tips, IMHO. I would think it would be better to go out with an experienced photographer if possible and have them critique your shots.
I have been getting some pointers from a couple of people, now I only need to remember what they said to do and practice what they preached.
I can tell you that being patient to get the right shot and having real good buoyancy control are imperative, again IMHO.
I have been reading the U/W Photography section of the PADI Adventures Dive book and it gives some good helpful tips, IMHO. I would think it would be better to go out with an experienced photographer if possible and have them critique your shots.
I have been getting some pointers from a couple of people, now I only need to remember what they said to do and practice what they preached.
I can tell you that being patient to get the right shot and having real good buoyancy control are imperative, again IMHO.
Wadaya mean, "where"? Why, underwater, of course. 
In answer to the second question, not from what I've heard. I've been told that the best way to learn untersea photo is first take an above water photo course.
In answer to the second question, not from what I've heard. I've been told that the best way to learn untersea photo is first take an above water photo course.
Originally posted by scubarat
Hi! Where did people learn underwater photography? Is the PADI course good? Thanks
I took the PADI course right off the bat and learned next to nothing! I was told to read the material and was given a test. Then 2 dives and 2 rolls of film. The scuba instructor was only a hobby photographer and simply picked up each photo and said good or bad. No critique, no hint on what was wrong. But I had paid the money and I've got that plastic card!!!
For the next 2 years it was trial, error, study, and more trial and error. I read everything I could get my hands on about the Sea & Sea cameras and anything on Composition. Jim Church's book is great. Every time I went to Cozumel, I used Island Photo. Holly and/or Armando would critique each and every photo. With each roll I learned more and more ways to imporove. Every dive trip to other locations I took, I sought out a local pro and asked for critques. They will gladly give them if you give them time to do so.
By this time I had a good knowledge of aperature, shutter speed, strobe angles and film properties. And I was finally able to go out and reproduce the good shots using that knowledge. It was now time to ask for instruction from a pro.
This past October I went to Cozumel and took a photography course from Holly and Armando. Just so happens Armando is also an instructor so I got another PADI card out of the deal but the card wasn't the goal. This photo course was a week long. Classroom in the morning and 2 dives each afternoon. I had a blast. 15 photographers on one cattle boat gets very interesting! We were taught more than the mechanics of taking pictures. We were also taught by example to respect the reef and to leave only bubbles.
You can learn alot off the internet too. One fellow that I learned alot from is also a photographer whose work I admire greatly, Dave Read. His website has an excellent tutorial from the basics and up. Check it out: http://www.daveread.com/uw-photo/
Pinpoint bouyancy control is a must! And you'll need the patience of Job. But the rewards are well worth it.
OK...maybe more than you asked!
For the next 2 years it was trial, error, study, and more trial and error. I read everything I could get my hands on about the Sea & Sea cameras and anything on Composition. Jim Church's book is great. Every time I went to Cozumel, I used Island Photo. Holly and/or Armando would critique each and every photo. With each roll I learned more and more ways to imporove. Every dive trip to other locations I took, I sought out a local pro and asked for critques. They will gladly give them if you give them time to do so.
By this time I had a good knowledge of aperature, shutter speed, strobe angles and film properties. And I was finally able to go out and reproduce the good shots using that knowledge. It was now time to ask for instruction from a pro.
This past October I went to Cozumel and took a photography course from Holly and Armando. Just so happens Armando is also an instructor so I got another PADI card out of the deal but the card wasn't the goal. This photo course was a week long. Classroom in the morning and 2 dives each afternoon. I had a blast. 15 photographers on one cattle boat gets very interesting! We were taught more than the mechanics of taking pictures. We were also taught by example to respect the reef and to leave only bubbles.
You can learn alot off the internet too. One fellow that I learned alot from is also a photographer whose work I admire greatly, Dave Read. His website has an excellent tutorial from the basics and up. Check it out: http://www.daveread.com/uw-photo/
Pinpoint bouyancy control is a must! And you'll need the patience of Job. But the rewards are well worth it.
OK...maybe more than you asked!
I have reviewed the PADI materials - in the hands of a competent instructor it is a good course - in the hands of a poor instructor it'd be worthless. Unfortunately it appears Dee ran into the latter.
I teach the SSI course, which is excellent indeed
Seriously, it's mostly in the instructor - and while good materials and a lot of practice can get you there, an instructed class can show you a lot of shortcuts and techniques you may never discover on your own. A very quick way to evaluate an instructor is a two step process... (1) when you talk photography together, is the instructor passionate about it? (2) are the photos taken by the instructor pretty good? If either answer is "no" then keep looking.
---------------
For some examples of what you can do with a point-and-shoot camera, see my Bonaire shots at
http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/SupportSt/rickmurchison/bonaire00.html
Have fun,
Rick
I teach the SSI course, which is excellent indeed
Seriously, it's mostly in the instructor - and while good materials and a lot of practice can get you there, an instructed class can show you a lot of shortcuts and techniques you may never discover on your own. A very quick way to evaluate an instructor is a two step process... (1) when you talk photography together, is the instructor passionate about it? (2) are the photos taken by the instructor pretty good? If either answer is "no" then keep looking.
---------------
For some examples of what you can do with a point-and-shoot camera, see my Bonaire shots at
http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/SupportSt/rickmurchison/bonaire00.html
Have fun,
Rick
blacknet
Contributor
Hello,
This is not intended to be bashing, talk down to or degrade anything or any agency in any manner.
I dislike the 'photo' classes offered thru the dive shops. Why? Because a majority of them can't take photo's worth anything. Ask them where they are published at, ask to see a list of the art galleries/museums/awards/shows/magazines/publications/etc that they are published with. The sad answer in most cases is none.
I happen to be very fortunate and live in the same area as a professional marine mammal photographer. He's published worldwide (practicaly every dive magazine worldwide) named photographer of the year in several countries worldwide, cover page photo on several mags, many many art galleries, sold prints in the 4-5 digit figure. This is where I took my 'class' from. Yes he offers week long photography classes in the bahamas with the dolphins and no I didn't do that. We went to panama city florida for our trip. I had the best time there.
I learned on my gear and started understanding the great ansel adams works and am adopting it for my own unique style underwater.
I now have the skills to walk into any place and ask the hard questions on photography and sort the bs from the truth, I know where to goto get the truth and the facts. I know how to best care for my equipment and how to get those good shots. I feel more confortable underwater with a camera housing than with out.
Not everyone is fortunate as I have been so far. For them it can be a real challange as it's an uphill battle. One thing that you can do is contact one of the photography gods and ask for group classes in resorts they offer. If you want I can point you to these legends.
Ed
This is not intended to be bashing, talk down to or degrade anything or any agency in any manner.
I dislike the 'photo' classes offered thru the dive shops. Why? Because a majority of them can't take photo's worth anything. Ask them where they are published at, ask to see a list of the art galleries/museums/awards/shows/magazines/publications/etc that they are published with. The sad answer in most cases is none.
I happen to be very fortunate and live in the same area as a professional marine mammal photographer. He's published worldwide (practicaly every dive magazine worldwide) named photographer of the year in several countries worldwide, cover page photo on several mags, many many art galleries, sold prints in the 4-5 digit figure. This is where I took my 'class' from. Yes he offers week long photography classes in the bahamas with the dolphins and no I didn't do that. We went to panama city florida for our trip. I had the best time there.
I learned on my gear and started understanding the great ansel adams works and am adopting it for my own unique style underwater.
I now have the skills to walk into any place and ask the hard questions on photography and sort the bs from the truth, I know where to goto get the truth and the facts. I know how to best care for my equipment and how to get those good shots. I feel more confortable underwater with a camera housing than with out.
Not everyone is fortunate as I have been so far. For them it can be a real challange as it's an uphill battle. One thing that you can do is contact one of the photography gods and ask for group classes in resorts they offer. If you want I can point you to these legends.
Ed
Ed,
The courses offered by agencies are much like the intro courses to photography at local shcools - those aren't usually taught by published photographers, either, and their goal isn't to teach professional photography. The introductory nature and the simple equipment used in the "first" photo course - usually taught to folks who don't know an ISO from an f-stop and don't want to know, either, doesn't require a seasoned published pro - indeed, *everybody* would be frustrated with that arrangement.
The goal is to get reasonably good snapshots with a reasonably cheap camera. And for that the courses are structured well. Combined with a competent instructor the results are quite satisfactory.
Rick
The courses offered by agencies are much like the intro courses to photography at local shcools - those aren't usually taught by published photographers, either, and their goal isn't to teach professional photography. The introductory nature and the simple equipment used in the "first" photo course - usually taught to folks who don't know an ISO from an f-stop and don't want to know, either, doesn't require a seasoned published pro - indeed, *everybody* would be frustrated with that arrangement.
The goal is to get reasonably good snapshots with a reasonably cheap camera. And for that the courses are structured well. Combined with a competent instructor the results are quite satisfactory.
Rick
Black(fish)net(stockings),
Ansel Adams? He did all his photography in black and white, used a tripod and did exposures that rarely used aperature openings larger than f/64! The latter two items are not ones that readily lend themselves to u/w photography. So, now, tell me how you use the "Zone System" (which Adams pioneered) and (previsualization of which he was the major proponent)? And, just out of curiousity, do you know who Minor White was?
Scubarat,
Sorry, for the diversion. People learn in different ways and, for some, a course is the best way to learn. If that is your mode, the class that I have heard the most good comments about is Cathy Church's on Grand Cayman. But, in all honesty, I have not taken her course or any others in u/w photography so I cannot tell you from a user's perspective. Never-the-less, I was in her shop/classroom when she was teaching and was impressed at her thoroughness. I saw the product of her students' efforts: very nice.
However, it was clear from the students' questions that they were all experienced photographers...
Now, where is all this leading? I guess it depends on your "land" experience. Have you done a lot of photograpy on land? What was its nature (snap shots, enlargements, darkroom experience, use of cropping etc.)? Do you want the same results from you u/w experience?
If you want snapshots to record your fun, probably a PADI course from a competent instructor will get you started. Here the best counsel would come from someone you know--did he or she take a course? How was it? Let's see some of your photos...
I am happy to discuss some more...if you like.
Joewr (not to be confused with Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, or Norbert Wu)
Ansel Adams? He did all his photography in black and white, used a tripod and did exposures that rarely used aperature openings larger than f/64! The latter two items are not ones that readily lend themselves to u/w photography. So, now, tell me how you use the "Zone System" (which Adams pioneered) and (previsualization of which he was the major proponent)? And, just out of curiousity, do you know who Minor White was?
Scubarat,
Sorry, for the diversion. People learn in different ways and, for some, a course is the best way to learn. If that is your mode, the class that I have heard the most good comments about is Cathy Church's on Grand Cayman. But, in all honesty, I have not taken her course or any others in u/w photography so I cannot tell you from a user's perspective. Never-the-less, I was in her shop/classroom when she was teaching and was impressed at her thoroughness. I saw the product of her students' efforts: very nice.
However, it was clear from the students' questions that they were all experienced photographers...
Now, where is all this leading? I guess it depends on your "land" experience. Have you done a lot of photograpy on land? What was its nature (snap shots, enlargements, darkroom experience, use of cropping etc.)? Do you want the same results from you u/w experience?
If you want snapshots to record your fun, probably a PADI course from a competent instructor will get you started. Here the best counsel would come from someone you know--did he or she take a course? How was it? Let's see some of your photos...
I am happy to discuss some more...if you like.
Joewr (not to be confused with Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, or Norbert Wu)
blacknet
Contributor
Hello,
joewr, yes I know who white is. As for using zone underwater it's quite easy to do. Also please refrain from insulting my handle.
Ed
joewr, yes I know who white is. As for using zone underwater it's quite easy to do. Also please refrain from insulting my handle.
Ed
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