Underwater photography

Underwater photography is less of a technique and more of an endeavor. Because I choose to use the same quality SLR cameras I shoot with on land, I need a way to get them underwater. I do this by using camera-specific, watertight (most of the time anyway) housings that allow me access to all of my controls through a series of plungers. Large, waterproof domes cover the lenses and these, like the housings themselves, are specific to what kind of lens I choose on any given dive. Finally, and most importantly to image quality, are the strobes. Water diffuses light with depth, right down the color spectrum. Remember "ROYGBIV" from high school physics? It was an acronym used to help us remember the spectrum colors, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet. These colors fade, starting with red as soon as you descend. Taking a picture 50 feet underwater without adding your own light will result in a colorless, washed out image. To combat this, I use powerful, dual strobes that can be operated manually. The list of techniques needed to shoot underwater successfully is a long one but a more colorful environment is hard to find.