Underwater Digital Cameras (Sony, Canon & Nikon)

Usually underwater digital cameras are used by serious professionals and are not a general piece of photographic equipment you can buy just anywhere. The likes of marine biologists and other scientific personnel use underwater digital cameras to study life beneath the waves. Many waterproof cameras are ok but they cannot be submerged for more than a meter below the surface of the water.

In fact the only way you are really going to get to use an underwater digital camera is if you buy one of these small specialist cameras that are able to be submerged for short periods.

There are very few true underwater digital cameras, as cameras are electronic and cannot withstand water and water pressure. Some of you may have seen or tried the cheap solution to this problem that comes in the form of a plastic casing. These cases have been very popular, especially with people on holiday that want to take a few underwater snaps with their favorite digital camera.

advised to take note of a few facts which should help produce better results.

Remember that as you farther down you go underwater, the more the light diffuses. Owing to the waters diffusing action, all images end up darker than a normal photo out of the water but this can be avoided if a few simple settings on the cameras white balance facility are adjusted. The water also has a strange effect on how the pictures look giving them the appearance of being magnified. To ensure the correct image will be taken you will have to pay a little more attention to the shot you are taking.

On the subject of checks prior to going underwater, it is a good idea to make sure the digital camera case doesn’t leak so submerge it underwater for a short while just to confirm it will be ok when you dive. Especially check the seal to make sure that a grain of sand or even a hair hasn’t broken the seal. Small silica gel packs can be useful if they can fit in the case without causing an obstruction.

Ask your underwater digital camera supplier if you can add extra lenses to complete the kit. If you enjoy looking at things close up then you will need to fit a macro lens.

When you have finished using your underwater digital camera be careful to wash it thoroughly to make sure all the salt water is removed as the salt will crystallize and this can cause leaks. In particular where sand is present then a stream of water to rinse it off is best.

Manufacturers who can supply this type of equipment are Sony, Canon and Nikon, so to find out more log onto their web sites.

The Right Light For Digital Photography

Getting a good picture is dependent on having good lighting.The looks of a picture is greatly affected by the amount of light. It even makes a difference in the emotional feel of the photo.When a picture is brightly lit, it has a more cheerful feel to it than a picture that is darker and may seem gloomy at worst, or mysterious at best.

 

Traditional photography captured the light by impressions on chemicals, while digital photography uses pixels to capture light.The best light is natural, but sometimes there's not enough available for a good picture.Sometimes there isn't enough available light, and you need to use artificial lighting.

 

How Much Light Is There?

 

While you can see for yourself to some extent how much light is available, to get precise measurements you need a light meter.A light meter doesn't do the same job a flash does.A light meter's job is to tell you how much light is being reflected off the subject of your picture, not to provide light. 

 

A handheld light meter will measure the light and was once a standard part of any serious photographer’s equipment.With today's digital cameras having a built-in light meter, hand held light meters aren't so important. You can look through the viewfinder and see how bright the picture will be.The built-in light meter of today's cameras will set off the automatic flash when it's too dark for a good photograph. 

 

Histograms Instead of Light Meters

 

Also, with digital cameras, it’s not so important to have a light meter because most have a histogram.  You can use the histogram in a similar fashion, as it will show how light or dark your picture is.

 

If you don’t have a histogram on your camera, or just don’t want to fuss with it, the simplest method is to take a picture and review it to see how it looks, and if it’s too dark or light, adjust by adding more light or lowering the amount of light.

The perfect lighting for your picture can be found with patience and practice. Enjoy taking those pictures.

Digital Photography generally provides easier ways to take photographs

Not so long ago there were many reasons for continuing to use cameras with film rather than to use digital cameras. Some amateurs, and even more professional photographers still prefer to stick with their favourite film cameras. With the ongoing advances in technology, digital cameras can now take as good, if not better photographs with a lot less hassle, and certainly less ongoing expense.

There are many types of photography, some of the main categories being portrait, landscape and action. These can then be sub-divided into other categories, and sometimes the camera you use will be different depending upon the type of photograph you are taking. A Digital Photography Tutorial can be found for all types.

Portrait photography can cover a wide number of subjects including family, wedding, child, maternity, formal etc. etc. The same equipment can generally be used for each, although accessories for backgrounds may sometimes need to be different. I would generally ask your subjects what they require and where they would like their portraits taken before embarking on any detailed plans. This is especially important when preparing for family photography. Even a moderately inexpensive cameras can be sufficient. You can view your photographs as you take them and even when you are happy with the images you have taken you are still able to edit them with the use of a special programme on your computer. No more difficult developing, air brushing and printing!

Digital Landscape photography can be equally complex. Although one thinks of this as just taking photographs of views, it can cover a variety of other tecniques such as close-up photography of plants or other parts of the landscape. The use of filters can can still be used with digital cameras although they are not always necessary, since the required effect can often be obtained on the computer during processing and printing. Macro photography is much easier with a digital camera as it can be easier to stay in focus close up.

Action photography is by far the most difficult technique to learn, as it requires a good eye, fast reflexes and good judgement of speeds etc. A good , fast digital camera is required as the less expensive versions can often take a long time to start (a few seconds is to long for this sort of photography. You need immediate control.) Again, a digital camera is a lot more rewarding and inexpensive than cameras with film etc. It costs next to nothing to take photographs with a digital camera so that you can take many photographs of the same action and one at least should satisfy your image of what you want. {This would have been much more expensive with the cost of films and processing in past times}{Even though film has generally been cheap, it is still more expensive than digital}. What’s more, with digital photography you can instantly see what you have taken and dispose of those images which do not reach your expectations.

To improve your skills, digital photograhy tips can be found freely on the web

Brian the Photographer

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