Underwater photography is the process of taking photographs while underwater. It is usually done while scuba diving, but can be done in other manners, such as while snorkeling or swimming.

Table of contents
1 Overview
2 Timeline
3 External Links

Overview

Underwater photography is extremely challenging since it is difficult to capture the image of a moving object, such as a fish, while the photographer is also moving. Many of the "rules" of photography still apply underwater but they must be used with some thought. A lot of advice can be found in scuba magazines and underwater photo web sites.

Taking amateur underwater photos is easy and fairly inexpensive. Purchase a disposable water proof camera and go to a nearby body of water—even a swimming pool will suffice. You can then practice taking photos of a willing subject, such as a friend. The film can be developed just as traditional photographs.

Timeline

  • 1856 William Thompson takes first underwater pictures using a camera mounted on a pole.
  • 1893 Louis Boutan take underwater pictures while diving using a surface supplied hard hat diving gear.
  • 1923 W.H. Longley and Charles Martin takes first underwater colour photos using a magnesium powered flash
  • 1957 the Calypso camera was built by Jean De Wouters and Jacques-Yves Cousteau, it would later be produced by Nikon as the Nikonos, the most sold underwater camera series.

External Links

Professional Underwater Photographers

Underwater Photography References