Underwater shooting anyone?

[George H]

Ive been asked to shoot some beauty/glamour shots in a pool underwater.
What is the best way to do this?

 

[AndrewX55]

underwater housing is probably the best way to go, but they're expensive. If you can find an olympic style pool with windows in the side, it might work as well.

 

[George H]

Thanks, do you know if these housings can be rented?

 

[aramc]

I did underwater photography with the s70 and a housing. Came out rather well.

My friend is more serious about it. He was using various p&s with external flashes.

Now he has a housing for a d20. The housing and flashes are very expensive. (as much if not more than the cost of a camera.)

Those divers like the internet (they have lots of downtime between dive trips..)

his site is..

http://www.scintillatedlight.com

the photos from 2003 are with a 4040.

he has lots of dive links on his page..
some of them are...

http://www.digitaldiver.net
http://www.marinecamera.com/

 

[Mike K]

off of Steves digicams, lots of links
http://www.steves-digicams.com/digresources.html#uw

 

[Ravalls]

I use the Ewa-Marine housings. They look more like plastic bags than housings, but they work. And yes, they do hold water, although they look flimsy.

Everything that says "underwater photography" will cost you A LOT, so even these things have a pretty steep price - for a plastic bag, anyway. However, it is peanuts compared to the real housings.

Be quite careful, though, if you decide to buy one. There are several models that look almost the same, but differ a lot in tiny but crucial details. I have a model that has a special extra-large lens window that takes in the new Canon wideangle zooms.

It also houses a flash, but be careful with that. The result might look good on the LCD, but the flash illuminates every little impurity in the water. Even indoors pool water might end up looking like a snowstorm.

(Sorry about the model's face, but this stuff is still waiting publication.)

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Ravalls

http://album.fotosafe.com/altiapp/isc/isc.fcg?p0=uiWxulCSclNMn4luBxuIiBIciBAugy3GkwTS1vzMFNJHMOMwUw@ixxumMMJA3j5UQ@B63S&p1=2MTBwUmJLwkjyW&p2=100&p5=Mw8VwoX9KnkqJSPEwq&r=1131432643.jpg

 

[SurfTasmania]

Well . . . it's not cheap - but if you are keen on things like action water-sports then these guys are one option

http://www.aquatech.com.au/

Craig just announced that their D-35 will suit the Canon 5D

http://www.aquatech.com.au/products/D-35/D-35.htm

I believe these are starting at around AUD$1,595 - Aquatech also has a US office.

THESE ARE NOT DIVE HOUSINGS - THESE ARE OPTIMIZED FOR NEAR-SURFACE ACTION LIKE SURFING AND "LIFESTYLE" SHOTS - DEPTH RATING IS ABOUT 10 METRES

These guys in Cali are another option

http://www.custom-surf-wake-photography-underwater-splash-camera-housings.com/new/index.php

Erik told me that his "Lunar" housing "fits very nicely" with the 5D.

http://www.custom-surf-wake-photography-underwater-splash-camera-housings.com/new/housing.php?housing=lunar

looks like Lunars start at US$1200

Yes..... it's all expensive

Full Disclosure - I've got no connections to these outfits - although both Craig and Erik are more than friendly to deal with. I do own and use an Aquatech housing for my DV-cam.

Hope this helps.

Cheers from Tassie

 

[George H]

great info!

 

[peripheralfocus]

You might ask your question at

http://www.wetpixel.com

It seems to be the primary online meeting place of knowledgeable UW photogs. UW photography is not trivial technically, so if you're shooting for high-end use, you've got a challenge ahead of you. Many land photographers who are hired to shoot UW jobs hire an experienced UW photog to assist them because of the unfamiliar technical issues that UW photography presents.

 

[jwiseman]

Hi George,

Yes, I've done some underwater swimwear type shots using a Canon 1D series body in an underwater housing. It is NOT easy.

I wouldn't expect to buy a plastic baggy for your 1DsII and 580EX flash and jump in the pool and take magnificent photos.

If you want to start out "lowball" like above, start by getting some good insurance that includes flooding. Then try a EWA marine plastic-bag housing. Use it with your 580 to trigger studio slaves up on the surfact pointing down toward the model. Water robs light, so you'll need a lot. Usually this means getting close to the model, so don't expect to be able to use a 50mm lens. You'll want a 24mm lens - and these won't perform well behind a flat glass on one of the cheap housings - but it's a start.

If you can rent a higher end housing and underwater strobe you will get along much better. Use your underwater strobe to fill in the shadows from the surface strobes. You can rent a Seacam housing from Stephen Frink Photographic in Key Largo. I would also consider doing a housing rental with one of my units.

I have a few photos up at:

http://www.reefpix.org/gallery/album125

Wetpixel.com is another wonderful source of information.

Sincerely
James Wiseman