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Scuba
Equipment
Shipwrecks
Wreck Valley Charter Boat
Swimsuits/Bikinis
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SHIPWRECK PHOTOGRAPHY
By Jozef Koppelman
& Dan Berg
Taking photographs under water has fascinated divers for years. With a
little luck and a lot of skill a diver can bring home the beauty of the
undersea world for all to enjoy. Wreck photography is just a little more
demanding then and a lot more rewarding than fish or reef photos.
Picture a diver cruising down a darkened corridor, only small rays of
ambient light penetrate through corroded holes in the ceiling above him.
On the silt covered floor he finds a china dish with a lobster sitting
next to it. He snaps three pictures before catching the lobster and
picking up the dish. These photographs will be outstanding, that is if
they come out. Some of the problems involved in photography in and
around shipwrecks is that the diver has to function all of his wreck
diving equipment, and camera gear while not kicking up any sediment. He
also has to contend with the darkness.
One recommendation is to not start to early in your dive career. You
should be able to hover effortlessly and check your air, time, depth and
anchor location as second nature. If you are new to wreck diving you
should also enjoy a period of exploration and familiarization. Once you
commit to the task of making under water images you are really taking on
an under water job, but the satisfaction of producing a fine picture
quickly diminishes in memory all the challenges that preceded its
making. The dollars spent, equipment failure, bad visibility, throwaway
rolls, the one that got away. Before diving into a wreck with a camera
in hand stream line yourself even more then normal. You may want to
leave your tools and bug bag on the boat, its hard to do it all. In
regards to air supply for deep wrecks, while many feel the twin tank
independent regulator rig is the ultimate in safety. Photographers
however often opt for doubles with a single regulator and pony. Given
the complexity of underwater photography this set up eliminates the need
to switch air sources while under water.
Assuming that those wishing to photograph shipwrecks will find proper
instruction for basic underwater photography. We will then start with
some standard equipment and techniques. Camera systems vary in design,
function and price. One of the most popular is the nikonos body. For
most photography on shipwrecks the diver will choose a wide angle
lenses, either a 15mm or the more economical 20mm. This is not saying
that macro photos are never taken on shipwrecks. Many worth while
subjects are found living on wrecks but for the most part taking macro
photographs on a reef is exactly the same as taking macro photos on a
wreck. We want a wide angle lenses so we can capture as much wreckage as
possible while being as close to the subject as possible. A powerful,
wide angle strobe is also essential. One with a modeling light is also
very useful. Wreck photography is usually a battle against the lack of
light. To deal with the darkness inside a wreck, and to avoid fumbling
around with a light in one hand and a camera in the other many serious
photographs mount a dive light to their camera system. Others wear a
head or helmet mounted dive light or mount a small modeling light on the
strobe. Dealing with the always present silt and sediment inside
shipwrecks can be accomplished with speed. The wreck photographer
doesn't have the luxury of spending five minutes setting up for the shot
or making camera adjustment to bracket each shot. He has to shoot the
picture before any silt gets disturbed. If he is to slow the suspended
particles will ruin his photo opportunity. Since time is of the essence
wreck divers have learned to bracket their photographs by taking a
series of shoots as they approach a subject. This is done with out
changing any camera or strobe settings. Another method is to have the
strobe hand held off camera. This lets you bracket the exposure by
moving the strobe closer or further from the subject while positioning
the strobe to reduce backscatter, the incidental illumination of
suspended particals in the water. Film must be tailored to your purposes
and to the anticipated conditions. For casual viewing color negative,
print film, is very exposure tolerant. If however you pursue photography
seriously transparency, slide, film should be your preference,
especially if you hope to have your work published. Tropical sunny
weather, and shallow water allow for a medium speed film. Koda chrome,
Fuji or Ectka chrome 100 will do fine. The latter two films employ E-6
processing which is speedily available at local labs and even on many
live aboard boats. E-6 processing also allows for pushing or increasing
of film speed in processing, at a small sacrifice to grain and contrast.
On deeper wrecks or in less then ideal conditions faster films likeK200,
E400 or Fugi 400 can be employed. Even with recent technological
improvements ultra fast films are more grainy and are more effective in
depicting atmospheric shots. The photographer should take light reading
and then set your aperture accordingly.
Using a model will add visual interest to many wreck photographs. The
model can be used in two ways; as a secondary element both for scale and
to add visual interest. Secondly the diver can be brought closer to
become the more dominate feature in the image. Try not to have the model
over pose but instead relay on their curiosity in exploring the wreck.
One trick is to have your model use a light. It adds immeasurably tothe
interest and can also highlight a particular object. Another recommended
technique is to fire when the model is exhaling. The finished image will
be much more dynamic.
You will note the absence of compositional guidelines. This is because
it is our belief that everyone has an individual vision. Once diving and
photographic techniques have been honed your own artistic view will be
your most valuable asset in expressing your own visions of the sea.
Shipwrecks offer the underwater photographer an endless amount of photo
opportunities. Whether your photographing a porthole, fish, lobster or
any of the other majestic photo opportunities shipwrecks offer.
Shipwreck divers will almost certainly never run out of things to
photograph. |
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The SeaLife ReefMaster RC underwater photo set includes a
SeaLife ReefMaster RC camera and an array of accessories
developed by divers for divers. The camera offers automatic
operations and point-and-shoot ease while handling depths up
to 164 feet. The large shutter lever requires only light
pressure, even at 164 feet. There's no need to focus--the
Reefmaster takes pictures from 4 feet to infinity. Other
features include a large sports-style viewfinder and a
built-in flash. The SeaLife ReefMaster RC can also take
shots on land. It uses standard 35mm film and AA batteries.
The airtight, unbreakable travel accessory case provided
will keep your camera and accessories clean, dry, and well
organized. The kit also includes a SeaLife macro 3x close-up
lens/underwater filter; a SeaLife care kit; SeaLife Moisture
Muncher antifog desiccant; and a SeaLife color booklet,
Great Pictures Made Easy.
Product Description:
Uses 35mm Film / Tested to depths up to 164 feet / Airtight
Travel Case / 3x Macro Close-Up Lens Includes care kit with
anti-fog dessicant SeaLife Photo Set's airtight travel case
with foam insert protects your camera and accessories during
rugged sea voyages Built-in Flash Uses 2 AA Batteries (not
included) Great for snorkeling and scuba diving Camera
measures 5.5 High x 5.5 Wide x 3.5 Deep and Weighs about 19
ounces
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Book Description
Designed to help the underwater photographer make a smooth
transition to digital imaging, this book discusses how to digitally
refine, correct, and enhance underwater photographs. It details the
equipment necessary for digital imaging for underwater photography,
and includes a discussion on the essentials of scanning. There is
extensive information on Adobe Photoshop, and how it can be used to
edit underwater pictures. This book also investigates the ethics of
photo manipulation and discusses the future of underwater
photography.
About the Author
Jack and Sue Drafahl are a husband and wife team of professional
undersea journalists, lecturers and multimedia producers. They have
written over 500 articles for publications including Skin Diver,
Petersen's Photographic, Sport Diver, Diver, Rangefinder, and many
more. Jack and Sue are Platinum Pro 5000 divers, and Sue is an
inaugural member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame. They enjoy
teaching seminars worldwide on all aspects of photography. |
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Underwater Video Jim Church's
unsurpassed ability to present complicated topics in a clear and
easy-to-digest manner is thoroughly evident in this superbly
organized guide. Even beginners will get professional results fast
by following Church's step-by-step instructions. More advanced users
will find a wealth of valuable information that will improve not
only their shooting techniques, but also their storyboarding,
editing and production skills.
Some of the Topics Covered
Surviving the equipment jungle
Secrets of professional shooting techniques
Adding interest & variety
Directional continuity
Putting models at ease
Lighting
Shooting close-up, medium & long shots
Planning the story line
Editing
Adding slides & graphics
How to shoot your dive trip
Topside video techniques
Guides to shooting Grand Cayman, Truk & liveaboards
About the Author
Jim Church is a pioneer of modern underwater photography. Many of
today's professionals got started with a camera in one hand, and
Jim's articles and books in the other. Jim's writings and
photographs have appeared hundreds of times during the past 30 years
in photography, travel and dive magazines, and newspapers. His
photographs have been used in advertisements for companies such as
Kodak and Nikon, and appeared in numerous books including the Ocean
World of Jacques Cousteau. He is the principal author of five
previous books on underwater photography and the author of Jim
Church's Essential Guide to Underwater Video. In 1985 Jim was the
co-recipient of the NOGI Award for the Arts for his contribution to
underwater photography. Today, he teaches underwater photography and
leads photographic expeditions worldwide.
Reviews
"...practical, thorough and conveniently structured in all parts. I
consider it the finest guide to underwater video available today."
-Stan Waterman, Emmy Award-winning underwater filmmaker
"...the most complete book on underwater video production I've seen.
If you're serious about producing high quality video images and
organizing these images into professional-looking videos, then this
book is your first important step."
-Howard Hall
"For anyone-beginner to advanced-who wants to put polish on their
work, this book is a must read. Once again Jim Church has made a
major contribution to the underwater photographic community"
-Marty Snyderman |
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Digital Video
(DV) camcorders have caused an explosive growth in the field of
Desktop Video (video you can make all by yourself on your own
desktop or laptop computer). This is especially true in Underwater
Videography where the proliferation of camcorders housings and
accessories has outstripped the information available on how to use
them. Most neophytes are stuck with skimpy instruction manuals that
come with their housing and only give the bare essentials of
preparing the housing but nothing on what to do with it. The purpose
of this book is to help you: 1. Research and purchase a DV camcorder
for underwater use 2. Research and purchase a Housing for your
camcorder 3. Properly prepare and maintain your underwater video
system 4. Correctly use the controls for best results 5. Use the
proper techniques for filming underwater in all conditions 6. Edit
your footage into an entertaining finished product
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Sponsored by: |
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The Waterfront
Expo
The complete
regional guide to waterfront real estate, vacation rentals
and water sport activities. |
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Powerboat Expo
Find a
complete source of information on pontoon boats, houseboats,
fishing boats, speed boats, yachts, outboard engines, marine
electronics and much more. |
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Bikinexpo.com
A complete
selection of designer swimsuits, bikinis, tankinis and one
piece swimwear. |
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Watersport Expo
A complete
assortment of water sports activities and equipment ranging
from whitewater rafting and kayaks to water skiing. |
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All
photographs, sketches, images and text |
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Copyright Capt. Dan Berg / Aqua Explorers Inc |
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2745
Cheshire Dr
Baldwin NY 11510
E-Mail Wreckvalle@aol.com |
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