DIVE LOG AUSTRALASIA ISSUE 413 AUGUST 25

Underexpose Triggerfish and use strobes to highlight its body colour

Can I find a better background to make the subject ‘pop’? When you get the privilege of diving with an international prize-winning photographer you soon see that they see opportunity where you might totally miss it. They have a trained eye! It comes from experience, years of trying to work out that special way to take the photo based on what works and what does not. There is an important skill in looking and actually consciously seeing what light conditions are available. Then, it becomes a matter of going about capturing it by using the tools in your skill set that you have acquired over the years.

You could point the photographic device of your choice and press a button to get your masterpiece offering a millisecond of effort and expecting perfection. This can happen successfully and it does happen, but only very rare occasions. All photographers fluke a great shot every now and again. The great question is how to make it happen more often?To answer this, you have to learn, read, study and analyse. It is a mission! It takes a lot of effort. The path ahead is filled with frustration, meagre rewards and most importantly expense and the occasional success. It is these little successes that you have to dwell on. Saviour them and reward yourself for getting a good shot. It will motivate you to do better. That little spoonful of sugar will help; You have to learn to love your own work and at the same time to criticize it. Once you identify errors, you can set about fixing them. As you embark on the great voyage into the universe of photography, we try to learn a few bits and bobs and try to master the business of capturing the beauty of the sea. This is the challenge.

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Dive Log Australasia #413 AUGUST’25

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