|
|
|
Underwater photography Camera rental/repair options Underwater photography in HawaiiWe hope you can see from the photos contained in these pages that there are beautiful animals to be photographed in very clear water here in Hawaii. But there are special considerations as well.
Due to a variety of factors, certain wide angle subjects that you may have seen in other tropical areas of the world such as Palau, Indonesia, the Red Sea or the Caribbean, are practically non- existent in Hawaii. Fan corals, barrel sponges, and many soft corals simply do not thrive in Hawaiian waters. Other wide angle subjects do exist, however, beginning in shallow water where brilliant red pencil urchins, common in Hawaii, are mixed with bright colored hard corals. A few feet deeper, large schools of yellow butterflyfish swarm around divers in crystal clear water creating a rewarding and colorful shot. In addition, Hawaii has many large animals such as manta rays, turtles and even the occasional whale shark. Any of these large subjects are beautiful subjects, especially if you are lucky enough to combine them with the ever-present yellow butterflyfish or a diver. While mantas and whale sharks show themselves mostly when you are low on air or have your macro lens, turtles are a different story. Since turtles have been protected in Hawaii for the past thirty years they are plentiful, and many are completely at ease with divers. They are a favorite subject of visiting professional and amateur photographers alike. In the areas we dive, most will let you get within a couple feet without flinching. When photographing turtles, approach from the direction of the head. That way, if they get up to leave, you will have photos of them coming toward the camera.
Photographing the many species found only in Hawaii will give your shots a distinct look when compared with photographs you may get in other parts of the world. From mammals such as the Hawaiian monk seal, to tiny invertebrates such as nudibranchs and flatworms, 25% of the marine creatures here cannot be photographed anyplace else! Not only that, but these Hawaiian endemics are often among the most common animals on the reef, and therefore, quite likely to be seen. A third facet of photography here is that some animals you may have tried to photograph elsewhere with little luck, may be more common in Hawaii. The beautiful harlequin shrimp is one example. All different colors of frogfish and eels, yellow tangs and green sea turtles are other animals that you may find here more easily. What type of camera equipment you have (or rent) will
determine what kind of photographs you will be able to take while you
are here. Naturally it is a good idea to be adept at diving before
trying to use a camera. Good buoyancy control, understanding of marine
life, and awareness of the surroundings should really be in place
before a camera is added to the mix.
If you have a digital point-and-shoot camera with
built-in flash you will get poor to excellent results depending on if
the camera has a manual setting option and how much practice you have
had with it. Point-and-shoot cameras can shoot wide angle and macro
without changing lenses and can sometimes get into places that a large
SLR camera cannot. They are great for photographing divers, turtles,
sharks and stationary animals. Because of the shutter delay they are
not great for fish portraits and other fast-moving animals. Attaching
an outside
strobe will enhance the quality of wide angle shots by getting the
flash away from the lens and increasing the lighting coverage.
A housed SLR camera is the top of the line for underwater
photography. This allows several
advantages over point-and-shoot cameras, such as no shutter delay,
better lens quality and more control over the image output.
Regardless of which type of camera you have, we are here to help you get the most out of it. Primarily, our desire is to help you capture beautiful or unusual animals and behaviors. Sometimes this requires that we spend time with you, helping to compose a shot; other times we need only show you the animal or behavior and let you be, to capture it in its most natural situation without the intrusion of other divers. Just let us know what you are looking for and we will draw on our years of underwater photography experience to help you obtain a beautiful shot. If you are thinking of renting a camera while you are here, we
have digital underwater camera rentals for $40 and put your photos on a
CD. Underwater Photography Instruction:Reeflections - private photography instruction from one of the most talented, modest underwater photographers we know. Mike Roberts' passion is underwater photography and he is an incredible teacher for both inexperienced and advanced photographers.
Photo Processing on Island:Longs Drug Store - one
hour print developing. Film or digital. Kihei. 879-2669 Lighthaus
Camera - sales/support of cameras, underwater housings and
strobes. 415-B Dairy Road. Kahului. (808)877-5155.
|
