So that was an interesting 3.5 weeks I spent in Canada. It was too many days and then not enough, as always. I stuffed my face, I laughed myself silly and I missed Roatan. I came back a few days ago and am slowly getting settled back in to the heat, the bugs, my favorite people, and being underwater.
Since I had decided to buy a new camera for my new contract position with a marketing company doing photography for a resort here in Roatan, my old Canon point and shoot looked like a pretty good candidate for getting an underwater housing and heading under the sea with me. Well, the one for my camera was $260 online (side note: are you fucking kidding me? This is an old 8MP camera I bought almost 4 years ago. It’s worth like $30 now.) so I found a housing for the camera a step below mine and since the dimensions and buttons were the same, I figured it would fit. It arrived in Vancouver and as luck would have it, it certainly did NOT fit. Now what?
Ah, the luxury of being in a big city. Within 15 minutes I had contacted someone on Craigslist who was selling the exact camera I needed. I met her at a Skytrain stop, gave her $40 and now had the right camera for the housing. I figured going down to 7.1 MP wasn’t that big of a difference, and if the housing flooded at least I was only out $40. (And I managed to sell the other camera that didn’t fit for $50 today here! So I actually made money off my mistake. First time that’s ever happened.)
I’ve taken my camera on two dives now and I have come to the following conclusions:
1. The camera kind of sucks. The macro isn’t very good and there’s no underwater setting. I thought 7.1MP would be enough, but I’m spoiled by my 14.1MP Olympus advanced compact camera, and I don’t like the way these ones look.
2. I definitely suck. I know nothing about underwater photography. I don’t know when I’m supposed to be using my flash and what settings to use and all of that. Also post-processing has been tough to figure out.
Any underwater photographers have tips? (Alex, I’m looking at you!)
Anyway, here’s some photos from the last two days. I hope to be able to post some better ones soon, but I know you all love diving photos so here you go:
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| okay, not even with my camera…this is with my co-wokers camera! |
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| looking up from the crack at keyhole |
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| every divemaster’s favorite sight – i found the boat 🙂 |
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| the wall at stingray corral |
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| lionfish! |
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| trying to master underwater selfies |
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| juvenile trunkfish! sooo tiny! he’s the little spotted ball! |
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| burrfish |
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| juvenile lionfish |
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| channel clinging crab |
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| pederson cleaner shrimp in a corkscrew anemone |
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| spiny lobsters chillin |
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| in case you forgot to pack your toothbrush |
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| a crack at mickey’s place i went to investigate and subsequently got stuck in! |
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| some of the coral and blue chromis at stingray corral |
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| tiger tail! it’s a type of sea cucumber. |
I love the fish!
I had to get an 'underwater' camera for the dig this year, since it rains constantly – I got the panasonic Lumix for about $80. It's allright, but it's frustrating switching when my main camera is a lot better! So now I'm saving up for the waterproof shell.
They look even better in real life! These are terrible photos! That camera is good for being waterproof, but having the underwater housing for your 'good' camera is the best – sadly, they don't make it for my main camera 🙁
Amazing photographs. Here are some more of diving in Roatan in Honduras. The waters boast of sea turtles, dolphins, and whales and tropical fish.
Thanks Avi (or Sophia, which one of you is writing??) glad you guys found my blog!! Hope to see you both this weekend, I'm coming into town for the fishing tournament! xo
Dude, underwater photography is so hard. Seriously. I mean, I'm by no means an excellent photographer (though I have improved over the last year), but put me in the water and I am a hot mess. Even Tony, who has worked as a professional photographer, has talked about how ridiculously tough it is to shoot underwater, though he's really be thriving on the challenge. Having a good camera is certainly part of the equation, but it's tough no matter what tools you've got!
Yeah man!! I was pretty surprised. I guess it's just that discord between what you see with your eyes, which is already pretty distorted all things considered, and what the camera can 'see'. A better setup is definitely on my wishlist though, I think it would help 🙂
Fantastic Pics!the one of the carck i love the most and really want to full fill my dream to be there in sea like you God bless Wonderful shot!
Thanks so much!! You should definitely try diving if you never have 🙂
Wow, I love your pics!! I wish I had an underwater camera when I was snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia! Diving is on the top of things to try though! Looks like sooo much fun!
You've gotta try diving! But snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef was probably amazing too!
Ah I am struggling with this also! I only just started diving and have accumulated just 30 dives at this point so my buoyancy has only just started to be acceptable! Never mind taking photos underwater sheesh! But my dive videographer friend's no 1 tip was to get a red filter, she says that makes the biggest difference! Also to do a white colour balance with the palm of your hand if you don't have a white slate.
Hahah well I'm glad you realize that – a camera completely changes your buoyancy (and attention) so you definitely need to have it down pat before you start taking toys underwater! And I'm looking into the red filter…they don't make it for my housing but I'm trying to find some alternatives! The hand is a good tip…I was using tanks… thank you!
I'm glad you are back from your holiday and you are enjoying diving now. Honey, you don't suck! These photos are really good. I've been your biggest fan and I love the way you capture the moments under the water. 🙂
Aw, Agness you're so sweet!! Thank you so much! I hope to be able to show a lot more photos of my underwater adventures now that I have a camera 🙂
Alex is definitely your girl to ask! She wrote a great guest post on my website about underwater photography. I actually really like your pics though, I just think you need a better camera!
Thanks Andi! Funny enough, that article she wrote is actually how I found YOU! Yeah, I'm hoping to pick her brain a little bit once I'm more comfortable with the camera. There's no way I can afford a new setup just yet, but in the meantime I'm looking into getting a red filter – that should help a bit.
Yes, a red filter will help at depth, especially if you don't have a nice flash system.
Joe – –
I'm still planning to get one, but I finally found the underwater setting on my camera and got a better photo editing program… I have some new pics that are miles better!
Hello!
The lionfish is awesome!
Just got my open water in July and have been finding resources online for diving and I found this space. Love the dive pics(:
Thanks so much and I'm really glad you found my site! If you have any questions feel free to contact me any time!
Great Pics! Love the one of the crack you got stuck in. Wonderful shot!
Thanks Linda! It was really nice lighting, thankfully it was a sunny day!
Gah just wild – so fun to see pictures of your life under the water!
It's definitely a whole different world! Now that I'm armed with this camera as well as my GoPro, I'm hoping I can show people a little more of this big part of my life 🙂
Your photo of the lionfish is definitely my favourite! I've only done underwater photography once while scuba diving in Cuba & it was a major fail, so very impressed with your shots, you do not suck! x
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Thanks Jacquie! As much as I hate to see lionfish (they're an invasive species here), they are SO pretty!