Underwater photography can be a delicate hobby. In saying that, it is something that you need to practice to get good at. With the help of some simple composition guidance and tips to remember, you can evolve into capturing and creating stunning underwater photos. Let’s dive in!

The rule of thirds

This is a basic rule for beginner photography. The rule of thirds is when the image that you are about to capture is split into thirds by grid lines, and the key elements of the composition are placed near or on where these grid lines intersect. Key elements being the point of focus; a creature’s eyes, or an object in the distance. It is not an essential rule to follow, but it is a good and easy tip to follow when starting out in underwater photography!

Shoot upwards not downwards!

This allows 1. you to focus easily on your subject and 2. for a contrasting background, which then helps the viewers focus on the foreground, which is what you want them to do. This is a useful trick for shooting wide-angle shots as well. If you’re shooting a moving target, it may also help to wait for an ideal background to come around.

Macro photography composition

Good focus work is key, and also exaggerating its separation from the background makes for a popping subject. These shots are generally more aesthetic without other distractions. Additionally, try to fill the frame with your subject! This makes your image more dramatic and also creates a unique perspective.

Leading lines

Leading lines help direct the viewer’s eye towards a subject. These are natural “lines” in the environment that you can use by angling yourself with your subject when photographing, essentially pointing the viewer’s eye in the direction you want. Examples of leading lines underwater can include jetty foundations, fan corals, whip corals, kelp, and structures of shipwrecks.

Give your subject “looking space”

A common tip with photographing and filming people is to provide them with looking space. This means positioning your frame to provide space in the direction that your subject is facing. With animals and fish, this is a useful composition tip as well. This method creates balance in your image and can also create a sense of direction and movement.

Get close!

A general rule of thumb to follow is that if you’re taking a photo of something small, try to be only a few inches away from your subject. If you’re photographing something bigger, try to be within a couple of feet. However, in doing so try not to amputate your subject by being too close, and try to maintain breathing room between your subject and the edge of your frame.

Look for contrasting colours

If you can capture an image where your subject has a background of contrasting colours, this will strongly help your subject to pop and brighten up your image naturally before you even attempt to edit it. Even though editing can do a lot for an image, trying to get the colours and angle right when you take the shot is good practice and saves work for later too.

Additional artistic tips

Some other features you can focus on underwater to compose aesthetically pleasing photos are aspects like patterns, shapes, and textures. There is an abundance of diverse, weird, and wonderful organisms in the underwater world, and capturing their intricate designs can make for a unique photo perspective.

So grab your camera and hit the water to put these tips into practice!

Written by Kayli Wouters

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