Introduction to Underwater Photography

An exciting two day workshop that will introduce you to the world of underwater photography, led by “Beauty and Resilience” artist John McMillan.

Day 1- Thursday, August 29th, 5pm-7pm | Introduction and Discussion at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center Gallery

Day 2- Sunday, September 1st, 12pm-3pm | Guided Underwater Photography Field Trip to the Sol Duc River

Detailed Outline

The Introductory workshop will feature a powerpoint presentation focused on cameras, lights, lenses, shooting techniques, and equipment and gear to remain safe and warm, while the Field workshop will take place outside in a real river and allow students to apply the knowledge and skills to improve chances of success while shooting underwater.

Day 1 – Powerpoint Presentation and Discussion at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center Gallery

The powerpoint presentation will cover all the basics needed to begin shooting underwater, including:

Examples of photographs from beginners to experts and realistic expectations.
Setting up and maintaining the camera and strobe/lights for ease of use and security.
Identifying the appropriate camera settings to maximize photograph quality, including shutter speed, aperture, film ISO, and white balance.
The use of strobes and/or lights, how they are attached to the camera and/or housing, and how to deal with and reduce backscatter.
The tradeoffs associated with wide angle, macro, zoom, and prime lenses, and why lens choice is perhaps the most important aspect of shooting underwater.
Identifying the types of rivers/streams, habitats, water temperatures, and times of year that beginners should focus on when beginning to shoot underwater.
How to approach and get close to fish, understanding why distance to the fish is critical to success, maximizing the direction and use of natural light, how to remain stable while shooting in a stream, and identifying which species and life stages are easiest to shoot.
The type of equipment needed to be comfortable underwater and avoid hypothermia, including tradeoffs between wetsuits and drysuits, masks and snorkel, gloves, booties and boots, fins, and hoodies.
Basic ways to edit photographs and/or video to improve the quality, color, contrast, sharpness, and punch of images.

Day 2 – Guided Underwater Photography Field Trip to the Sol Duc River

Location of the Field Workshop: Bear Creek in the upper Sol Duc, an hour drive east of Port Angeles. A map and directions will be sent to attendees nearer to the workshop date.

Ability Requirements for Day 2 in the Field:

While the underwater portion of this workshop will primarily take place in knee-deep water in slow-moving side channels, attendees should be strong swimmers with experience in cold, moving water and breathing through a snorkel. Positioning may include laying on the bank with only the top of one’s body in the water; standing/kneeling/sitting in cold, moving water; and/or snorkeling in shallow, cold water. Attendees should also expect some hiking to get down to the underwater location.

Attendees should bring to both workshops:

Dedicated underwater camera (like an Olympus tough or GoPro) and/or a camera with an underwater housing. Strobes and/or lights are important, but they are optional for beginners and are not entirely necessary. Bring your camera and/or housing to the Thursday workshop.

However, if someone wants to attend both workshops and does not yet have a camera, that is also okay. A camera is not entirely necessary if someone is merely curious about whether they would find this type of photography to be valuable.

Attendees should bring to Day 2 Field Workshop:

Wetsuit (3.5 – 5mm is sufficient) or drysuit. Water temperatures will likely be 53-58F, so staying warm is the MOST important aspect of shooting underwater. A cold diver often makes rushed decisions, which is not ideal for photography, and can get hypothermia.

Dive mask and snorkel

If the wetsuit does not have a hoodie attached, bring a 3.5 – 5mm neoprene hoodie

3.5mm neoprene gloves should be sufficient, but 5mm is ok also

5mm neoprene booties to wear under the wetsuit

I (John McMillan) wear wading boots over the booties, but attendees can wear any type of shoe over the booties or they can purchase surfing booties and wear those. But some type of foot protection is necessary. Attendees do not need fins.

Bring plenty of water, a snack, two full size towels, and a smaller hand towel

Need Gear for the day?

North by Northwest Surf Co. offers complete wetsuit rentals (wetsuit, hood, gloves, and booties) for $25 for the day. Call (360) 452-5144 to reserve your gear!

What can students expect to come away with?

The workshop will provide students with an introduction to shooting underwater photographs and video of salmon and other forms of life in the river. Students will come way with fundamental knowledge about the tradeoffs associated with using different types of cameras, camera settings and maintenance, use of strobes and lights, shooting techniques and tips on operating cameras underwater, the easiest types of stream habitats to start shooting in, gear and equipment to remain safe and warm, knowledge about fish behavior and how to get close without scaring them, and tried-and-true methods for successfully editing underwater photographs.