Still photography

Romanticism & Romantic Elements in UW Images: Contributors’ Picks

Photo by Kate Jonker: The delicate pastels of a gasflame nudibranch, Bonisa nakaza, add a sense of romance. The photo was taken in Gordon’s Bay, South Africa, using a shallow depth of field. Gear: Canon EOS R5, Canon 100mm macro lens, two Marelux Apollo S strobes. Exposure: ISO 320, f/5.6, 1/160s.

We asked our contributors to share their favorite underwater images that showcase Romanticism and romantic elements or symbolism, and they came back with a beautiful collection of macro and wide-angle shots featuring a variety of marine life and underwater scenery, including the Dark Romanticism of mysterious caves and moody wrecks.

Gem Tones in UW Images: Contributors’ Picks

Photo by Anita George-Ares: Hawk anthias, Taveuni, Fiji. Gear: Canon EOS Rebel SL1 camera, Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens, Ikelite housing, two Ikelite DS161 strobes. Exposure: ISO 200, f/11, 1/200s.

We asked our contributors to share their favorite underwater images with gem tones of ruby red, emerald green, sapphire blue, amethyst purple, amber topaz or sparkly diamond, and they came back with a brilliant selection of macro and wide-angle shots featuring a diverse range of marine species and underwater scenes.

Ornate & Ornamental: Contributors’ Picks

basket star
Photo by Kate Jonker: The ornate arms of the basket star, Astrocladus euryale, help to collect food particles as they pass by in the water column. Gordon’s Bay, South Africa. Gear: Nikon D850 camera, Nikon 105mm macro lens, Isotta housing, two Inon Z-240 strobes. Exposure: ISO 200, f/18, 1/250s.

We asked our contributors to share their favorite images of the ornate and ornamental in the underwater realm, and they returned with a fine selection of macro and wide-angle shots featuring a diverse range of marine species from fancy fish, cephalopods, crustaceans, echinoderms, crinoids, corals and anemones to dappled whales and sharks to delicate nudibranchs and sea slugs.

SeaLife's New Sea Dragon Duo 10K+ Color Boost Underwater Photo-Video Light Set

The light set’s revolutionary Color Boost feature enhances colors underwater.

The 5000+ lights offer a 90 CRI (color rendering index) with a proprietary LED array that closely simulates natural sunlight (A CRI of 100 would be just like outdoor daylight). Most other LED lights offer a much lower CRI, missing critical colors necessary to produce natural and colorful still images and videos. 

Black as a Design Element: Contributors’ Picks

ornate amphipod
Photo by Kate Jonker: Moonwalker—ornate amphipod photographed using a snoot torch to create a black background (above). Gear: Olympus TG-6 camera, Marelux housing, Minigear torch. Exposure: ISO400, f/18, 1/1000s.

We asked our contributors to share their favorite underwater images that use black as a design element, and they came back with a dynamic selection of macro and wide-angle shots featuring a diverse range of marine life, haunting wreck scenes, dramatic underwater topography, and even divers. 

Signature Traits: Contributors' Picks

Photo by Gary Rose: Great hammerhead shark (previous page), Bimini, Bahama Islands. The shape of the cephalofoil (head) and the huge dorsal fin are quick identifiers. Gear: Nikon D500 camera, Tokina 10-17mm lens at 17mm, Nauticam housing, Inon Z-330 strobes. Exposure: ISO 400, f/11, 1/125s.

We asked our contributors to share their favorite underwater images that showcase the distinctive features of various underwater creatures, and they returned with a broad selection of macro and wide-angle shots featuring a variety of marine life, from majestic sharks and sea turtles to tiny nudibranchs and crustaceans.

Transparent & Translucent: Contributors’ Picks

Photo by Kate Jonker: Translucent strawberry anemones, Corynactis annulata, can be made to glow by lighting with a snoot positioned above and slightly behind them. Simon’s Town, South Africa. Gear: Canon EOS 7D Mark II camera, Canon EF 100mm macro lens, one Inon strobe with Marelux SOFT Pro snoot. Exposure: ISO 100, f/25, 1/250s

We asked our contributors to share their favorite underwater photos showing the transparent and translucent qualities of underwater creatures, and they came back with a range of macro and wide-angle shots featuring a variety of marine life.

Pure Light: Shooting with Ambient Light in UW Photography

Striped dolphins, southern Egypt
Striped dolphins, southern Egypt

Photographing in ambient light can be a choice or a necessity. It is therefore important to develop an adequate sensitivity to ambient light in order to be able to judge whether it is the best option for shooting a particular scene. Claudio Ziraldo offers some insights and tips on how to improve your underwater images.

Photo of a diver on the wreck of the Stolt Dagali off the New Jersey coast in the United States, which has been modified by Generative Fill AI in Photoshop. The original image is inside the dashed-line border.

New Video on AI in Underwater Photography

Have look at this video of an excellent, informative and entertaining presentation on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in underwater photography, namely Generative Fill in Photoshop, by regular contributor and avid underwater photographer and technical diver Michael Rothschild.