Hi,

I exploring how I can learn u/w photography in Malaysia. I live near Sipadan Island yet there are no local u/w photographer in the area. Any recommendations on courses and programs I can look into?

Perhaps you would care sharing how you started your journey to u/w photography. Thank you.

Simple - borrowed Motormarine II camera, broke it on the first dive, moved up to a used Nikonos V, did not like using extension tubes for macro, moved up to a housed SLR. Most learning by trial and error, taking some notes and experimenting. Spent thousands on rolls of film and prints. 15 year later....wish I had taken some above water photography courses first. could have saved some time and money....

Keith

Sipidan Water Village is having a photo contest at the beginning of March next year. There will be photo pros (Jim Watt and Murray Kaufman are currently scheduled) and there should be some photo gear to try out.

From looking at your website you obviously have a significant amount of photographic skill and experience already. This will help a lot.

I bought a second hand housed SLR as my first system. This does require a significant amount of expenditure but the benefits of good autofocus, reliable TTL metering and good quality lenses are not to be underestimated in my opinion. The first roll of film I shot underwater was in focus and correctly exposed. The next 200 rolls taught me about technique and composition

The explosion in digital camera technology has created great opportunity for the U/W photographer. The ability to review, delete and adjust your shot instantly is a huge advantage over film. For some information on U/W digital photography see Digideep.

If you already have a Nikon or Canon SLR or DSLR then chances are that you'll be able to get an U/W housing for it. If you don't have either Canon or Nikon then it's harder to get a housing to fit and frankly I'd just sell your existing camera and buy a Nikon anyway

If you don't have either then consider getting a digital point and shoot camera with a plastic waterproof housing. These are relatively inexpensive (you will quickly disciver that everything in U/W photography is expensive) and will get you started. Given that you already have a good grounding in creating images though I suspect you will quickly outgrow the limitations of P&S and then you'll want an SLR anyway.

I would NOT consider getting either a Nikonos or other "amphibious" film camera unless you can get one for virtually nothing or you have no other option. Technology has moved on and despite the fact that many of us either started with Nikonos or have used them along the way, there are now MUCH easier ways of getting reliable pictures U/W. Don't get me wrong, the Nik3 or Nik5 with a 15mm lens is a beautiful piece of equipment and I suspect that a lot of people reading this (myself included) have taken memorable shots with that particular combination. I just don't think there's any benefit in your trying to learn how to use what is essentially a museum piece. it would have been like me trying to use a Rolleimarin.

There are a lot of books out there that will give you valuable advice. Even older books dealing with film based cameras (and yes, even the Nikonos) still contain valuable advice because even though the newer equipment is different/better the basic mechanics of photographic technique underwater in terms of composition and lighting are still much the same. Any book by Jim Church (sadly departed) or Martin Edge will be well worth reading.

If you can get access to any U/W photo pro then my advice would be to go for it! I live in the south of Australia and was the only U/W photographer I knew for about the first 3 years I took photos, until I managed to talk my buddies into buying cameras.

Finally though, like everything in life, U/W photography is about practice. If you live near Sipadan, then that practice will be most enjoyable.

There are a couple of good classes available on the Internet, specifically one by Marty Snyderman. You can take a look at the course description and a preview at http://www.theunderwaterphotographer.com/courses.shtml

I took it - it is a good overall course about both wide angle and macro underwater photography.

On that same site are a couple of digital courses also.

(Disclaimer - I have no affiliation with this site; I was a satisfied user of the Marty Snyderman course.)

I learned a lot (for free) from my local underwater photography society - www.hups.org

Do you have something like that in Malaysia?

Sincerely,
James Wiseman

Hi Louis

Firstly, see if you can get a class with a well known shooter. I did a course about 8 years ago with Kevin Deacon, and that gave me a good foundation.

Read all you can - my favourite book, by far, is Martin Edge's The Underwater Photographer. Books by Howard Hall, Paul Kay and Jim Church are also excellent.

As an accomplished photographer already, you could also take the route of studying other photos that you like, and "reverse engineering" them - working out how the photog achieved the shot. It is an interesting process to look at an image and work out if they used artificial light, if so how much. What sort of lens they used, and perhaps how the selected positioning and subject.

Then make lots of photos, and self-critique.

Also, consider posting your photos to boards like this and usefilm.com to take a look at how others respond. Wetpixel users will look at the technical aspects of the image, and provide valuable feedback. With relatively few uw photogs, usefilm.com will tend to give you more view of what people respond to

Above all, have fun.

Along with reading, there is a pretty good online course authored by Marty Snyderman. I found it worth the $50 he charges for it. Interactive, lots of examples and images.

Check it out at http://www.theunderwaterphotographer.com/

Regards,

I'll be there covering the event for local and national newspaper. I will definitely try to talk and pick things up from Murray Kaufman. I've seen a lot of his pix on books and postcard. I will be an experience to see him in person.

Thanks for the post...it's an interesting website. I will take up the course along with several books suggested in this thread, and an Open Sea Licence for starters.

Thank you everyone for the information and help.

Hi Louis,
I think there is a UW-photcentre at Borneo Diver's Sipadan Island Diving Lodge?
Cybergoldfish could probably help you with more info?

PauP

For self instruction I recommend Howard Hall's book. Did he just come out with a new version?? Jim Church's Essential Composition and the Martin Edge book.

In my Nikonos days I took several seminars from Cathy Church in Grand Cayman. Learned a lot. Out here on the left coast. Optiquatics runs trips on the local dive boats and up in BC Canada. I believe Joe gives you help and will critique your photos.

If you want a good photo book (non-uw) that does one of the best introductions into manual exposure i recommend John Shaw's "Nature Photography Field Guide"

Simon