What type of mask would you prefer that your subject wear?

[Westwinds]

When taking a picture where a diver is the subject, what type of mask would you prefer that diver wear?

After becoming more comfortable with underwater photography, I learnt that there are many quick and easy techniques that can enhance the overall quality or ‘appeal’ of an image.

For example, by removing the snorkel on your model the overall image remains balanced and simply looks better. Almost any dive magazine will illustrate this point.

So, I was wondering if the mask plays a role in the overall image quality. I tend to prefer my models to wear a single lens mask. I can see their facial expressions and identify them without looking at the equipment they are wearing.

What is your preference?

Westwinds

 

[fdog]

Single lens. The bar down the middle on double lens masks splits up the eyes. With most of the face gone to reg & nose pocket, the eyes are important to maintain emotion and humanness.

All the best, James

 

[MarkH]

When taking a picture where a diver is the subject, what type of mask would you prefer that diver wear?

Personally, any kind of mask is fine with me. I know the dive magazine photos (especially tropical ones) all have the same model in the same pose. There must be some underwater model manual that they have to memorize. It all ends up looking artificial to me. If I saw a diver in a photo with a dorky looking mask, a B.C. that (God forbid) doesn't match the fins or a weight belt that isn't pink, I would see a real diver and not a posed model of some photographer going by the formula.

 

[justleesa]

I find I get a better picture if the silicone around the mask is clear.

 

[pipedope]

Using a mask with a clear skirt helps get more light to the face and produces a better picture.

Interesting note, in all the movies you have seen with divers in commercial gear they have added lights inside the helmet to light the faces of the actors.
In normal commercial diving we have no use for lights inside the helmet at all, but it makes no sense to pay an expensive actor and then not be able to see them.