TechnologY

10 underwater photography tips for smartphones

By Shaurya Shubham | September 13, 2024

The important aspect of underwater photography is to invest in some good waterproof cases. You can easily find one on Amazon and this will help you to keep the phone safe.

Waterproof case

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Smartphone’s touch can become unresponsive underwater. But you use your smartwatch or timer to capture the shots without fiddling with the Shutter button on the phone’s display.

Use remote shutter or timer

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Underwater, light behaves differently, often causing a blue tint. Using a red filter can help restore color balance and reveal natural hues.

Understand light behaviour

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For optimal natural light, shoot in shallow waters. The ideal time is between 10 AM and 2 PM when the sun is at its highest.

Use natural light

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Water can reduce the details and sharpness in the photos. Try to get as close as possible to the subject before capturing.

Get close to your subject

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You can mount the phone on a monopod or a floating handle to capture the stead shot underwater.

Stabilise your shot

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Try to adjust the white balance and exposure that suits the conditions to get better shots. This will help you get better colours and brightness.

Adjust camera settings your shot

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Marine life can be unpredictable. You can use burst mode to capture multiple shots in one go and then choose the best shot later.

Use Burst Mode

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Capturing perfect frame is one thing, but tweaking it to deliver the best output is another. You can make colour corrections, change frames, etc to get that perfect shot.

Edit your photos

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Avoid muddy and rough water as they can reduce the quality of the photo and result in hazy and blurry images.

Check water conditions

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There are phones that come with IP rating that stands for water and dust resistance. While it does not guarantee complete protection, it can keep the phone safe in case of an accident.

Get an IP rated phone, if possible

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