I really like my pictures from my latest trip so I thought I'd share my experience using a compact camera, the Canon G7X Mark II together with the WP-DC55 underwater housing during my Perhentian Islands snorkeling trip!
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| Green sea turtle spotted in Perhentian Islands |
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| Coral flatlay |
Quick underwater photography beginner tips to conquer the problems I faced
1. Set to underwater mode and high speed continuous shooting mode, select the best of the lot!
My first few pictures were really bad. Blur, odd colour, and badly composed. How do people freaking swim and still take nice pictures? My shortcut was to use the underwater mode and continuous shooting mode on the G7X Mark II. Underwater mode helps to correct the colour underwater, and high speed continuous shooting mode snaps multiple images at one click. I tried using the underwater macro mode but couldn't get good shots. Probably cause I couldn't hold my breath long enough to get so close. It might be more useful when diving..
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| Freediving just to get a decent picture |
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| The number of continuous shots taken |
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| SCN - Underwater |
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| Select high speed continuous shooting |
2. Go closer to the subject and take more pictures when its sunny
The further you are from the subject, whether is it corals or sea animals, the more the colours kinda disappear. I realized that my pictures also turn out exceptionally pretty when the sun is out.
In perhentian, people flock to turtles when they see them. We all get excited, but these turtles, they come up to breathe. When people flock over to them when they try to surface, they get scared and might just go back down, without breathing. It’s really bad for them, but its so hard to educate everyone about it :(
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| These fishes were swimming really near me so I didn’t even have to freedive to get this shot. |
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| Clown fish spotted in the corals |
3. Keep your snorkel mask clear by using anti fog drops, or.. by spitting in it
I spit in my snorkel mask. Don't judge. It is annoying when my mask fogs up and when I have to wash it to see clearly.. I can't do so many things at once.
4. Post process the images to show the contrast and focus
I used to feel that its very troublesome, but I realized that there are shortcuts. Using Photoscape, you can mass edit a batch of images. It won't be perfect because every image is different, but its fast. Lightroom is a little more advanced, you can copy photo settings of an image to another, but its slightly more technical. Photoscape is free and beginner friendly. Lightroom is licensed but has a wider variety of adjustment tools. Alternatively, download images to your phone via the Camera Connect app, and then add filters on Instagram, VSCOcam, or any other photo editing app :D
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| Post processed |
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| Before post processing |
5. Silicon grease the rubber parts of the case to prevent water leakage, and throw in a silica gel pack to absorb moisture
I greased the rubber parts but it wasn't enough. I think some water got in because the case fogged up after half a day. I wanted to throw in a silica gel pack but I couldn't find one, and was lazy so.. I had to suffer the consequences. Thankfully the camera still works.
Some other good-to-knows
1.
Do not feed the fish to attract them. It’s nice to have tons of fish around us, but they’re capable of feeding themselves. In some touristy places, fish start biting humans because they associate us with food. Let’s try not to disrupt their natural habitat as much as we can :)
2. We
don’t need fins to snorkel. Fins help to propel us quick, but for those who can’t navigate well in the water, they tend to step on corals especially in shallow waters. We have enough bleached corals and we want to continue to enjoy pretty corals.
