Unlock the Secrets of Underwater Photography: Mastering Ambient Light for Captivating Underwater Imagery

When new to underwater photography, people always are asking what lights they should buy, video lights, strobes etc. Now I will be the first to tell you the importance of such items, however there is one huge factor people over look; the source of light that is on all of our photos … natural light. Before worrying about how to handle additional lighting, it’s well worth fully understanding natural light and how to work with it before learning how to blend it with artificial light, which will be the subject of this weeks tip.

When we talk about ambient light, we mean the sun. Now the sun can add so much dimension to a photo, it can bring out the natural colors of a wreck, it can be used to capture sun beams. But the main consideration for you to begin with is to always know where the sun is and decide if you want to shoot with it or against it.

Step 1 - Shooting with the sun

When we say shooting with the sun, we mean using it to our advantage and shooting with the sun behind us so that the sun comes over our shoulder and helps to illuminate the scene in front of us. In some cases, the scene is so large (such as in a big wreck) it’s impossible to light the scene up with strobes and so using the sun is what we want to do. Obviously this means we can only shoot in one direction. This also means that you need to be more selective over your photography. Sometimes when diving a reef wall for example I am often swimming backwards in comparison to all the other divers; this is because I wish for the sun to be coming over my shoulder and assisting me.

It may seem counterintuitive, but it will really aid your photography and give you much more colorful photos.

Step 2 - Depth

The sun will naturally lose its power as you go deeper. Its surprising how deep you can go and still have apparent daylight, however, you will effectively have a greater amount of water for the sun to shine through the deeper you go and that means you will lose color.

At 15 feet (5m) you will lose the color red, at 25 feet (8m) you will lose orange, and by 65 feet (20m) all you have left is the color blue and hence that’s why peoples photos just look blue when at depth. So for this reason keep it shallow for natural light shooting.

Step 3 - Shadows and contrast

The best ambient light shots combine highly lit areas of a scene, often with sun rays and also dark shadows. These high contrast scenes can be great for big impact images. So when diving in bright sunlight, look for overhangs and shadows within images to create high contrast images. Always understand the direction of the light and try to do this type of photography in the morning when the sun is on an angle. In the midday sun the light will be very flat as it comes directly from above.

Step 4 - Black and White 

When you have harsh sun, it can be a great time to shoot black and white images. These types of images can be very effective when you have a great range of shadows and highlights in an image. When shooting a wreck at sub optimal times of the day, for example when the sun is on the non-desirable side, it can create wonderful black and white high contrast images. It can also be very effective when shooting caves and reef overhangs.

Conclusion

While the allure of advanced underwater photography equipment like video lights and strobes is undeniable, it’s crucial not to overlook the fundamental role of natural light in capturing stunning underwater scenes. Understanding how to leverage natural light effectively can significantly enhance the quality and vibrancy of your photographs.

By mastering the art of shooting with the sun, considering depth to preserve color, playing with shadows and contrast, and exploring the dramatic possibilities of black and white photography, you can elevate your underwater photography to new heights.

So, before delving into the realm of artificial lighting, take the time to fully appreciate and harness the power of natural light. It’s not just a source of illumination; it’s a vital tool for creating captivating underwater imagery that tells compelling stories and evokes powerful emotions.