Scuba Sport Magazine is the only scuba magazine that offers diving news, dive travel, scuba gear, diving destinations and underwater photography that caters to the recreational diver.
when taking CFWA SKRWRJUDSKV 6LPSOLFLW\ brings order and stability to compositions, which you need to balance with tension, that provides movement and a sense of the dynamic. Good pictorial compositions, like living life, involves balancing tension against order to create the ideal combination— dynamic simplicity.
Knowing your environment and critters is a massive plus—start with immobile LQYHUWHEUDWHV DQG ÀVK WKDW XVH FDPRXÁDJH RU stealth. These animals will allow a close approach if you move in slowly and deliberately. Have the
camera settings all pre-set and strobe charged before easing in, take a deep breath and don't scare off the subject! Don't forget night brings out different creatures and different behaviors from feeding FRUDOV WR VOHHSLQJ ÀVK
Adding a model—this is one area where CFWA really shines, adding the human element brings a wonderful emotional connection to the viewer who can imagine themselves in the picture. Working with the same model over and over creates such an unspoken understanding—vital underwater!
Keep the model 'clean'
from extraneous stuff, hoses, gauges, BC buckles and straps, all hanging in the way and distracting. Have the model look at the subject not into the lens. Make sure you avoid the classic 'black mask effect' WKDW LV \RXU VWUREH ÁDVK coming in at an angle so it UHÁHFWV RII WKH PRGHO·V PDVN rather than entering it to see their eyes.
+RVHV IHHW DQG ÀQV—be aware of how large an area CFWA covers and the need for proper composition before pressing the trigger— ZKLFK GHÀQLWHO\ LQFOXGHV checking to every corner of the image for stray 'stuff' you don't want included like
Elements of visual design—colour and being flexible. This Magnifi- cent Feather Duster on Red Rope sponge is just dazzling. Red is the swoopiest primary colour. St. Lucia.
Finding these Social Feather Dust- er's attached to a Giant Sea Rod was an invitation and challenge—just looking at feather worms and Gor- gonian polyps makes them retract, never mind bubbles, equipment and trying to compose. Belize.
Adding a model is a fantastic ele- ment to CFWA—keep the model clean & simple, no hoses, gauges, snorkels, etc. to distract the com- position, have them look at the subject to create dynamic tension and get close. The fabulous Purple Tunicates add colour to the visual design. Cochino Islands, Honduras.
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