How to take the best underwater photos

The underwater world is always amazing to dive, snorkel and explore, but how to capture the perfect photograph in the deep blue? We asked our good friend and professional underwater photographer, Sam Lawrence from Ocean Collective Media, for his top tips for underwater photography.

1. Get comfortable in the water first

Sam Lawrence, Bawah Reserve, Indonesia 

Before you worry about taking an amazing underwater photograph, ensure you are comfortable in the water first. Warm up by snorkelling or scuba diving so that when you are in the water with your camera you are completely comfortable and can focus on getting the right shot.

2. Get close to your subject

Sam Lawrence, Bawah Reserve, Indonesia 

Be sure to get as close as you can to the subject you are photographing. This creates a cleaner, sharper image. Be patient; this may take time.

3. Respect and understand wildlife

Sam Lawrence, Bawah Reserve, Indonesia 

When it comes to photographing marine life, you must understand it. Spend time observing underwater sea life. The more you understand their behaviour, the easier it is to interact with them without scaring them away.

4. Don’t be afraid to experiment in post production

Sam Lawrence, Bawah Reserve, Indonesia 

Everyone has their own editing style. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different editing techniques and steadily develop your own unique style of work.

5. Have fun and practice, practice, practice

Sam Lawrence, Bawah Reserve, Indonesia 

The most important tip I can give for underwater photography is to spend as much time as possible in the water practicing with your camera. Experiment with your camera settings to achieve different results. Photography can be a lot of trial and error. The only way to learn is to get in the water and take lots of photos!

At Bawah Reserve we partner with diving experts Orca Nation - read more here about diving on Bawah Reserve.

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About Sam Lawrence: 

Sam has always lived close to the ocean. Through surfing and diving Sam quickly developed a passion for the ocean which ultimately led to him undertaking a degree in Marine Biology.  Sam now works as an underwater photographer and combines his knowledge and experience as a marine biologist with his passion of underwater photography to help protect the ocean environment.  Here's his top tips for getting that perfect underwater snap.