How to take photos underwater
Jennifer Hayes came to photography through science: the desire to sway people toward conservation. Here’s her advice for creating powerful imagery under the sea.
November 14, 2023 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
I came to photography and storytelling through science. During my graduate research on sharks and sturgeon, I saw the power imagery could have in academia, and among policymakers and the general public. Photos and video were worlds more persuasive than pie charts and statistics—they made people connect to species and ecosystems normally hidden from their view.
My goal is simple: to use imagery to let people know who we share our planet with, and to show them that Earth is ours to stand up for or lose. Here are my tips for capturing photos and video underwater.
Use whatever you can
Never underestimate the power of your tools: whether it’s a smartphone, GoPro, DSLR, or drone—even pen and paper. Yes, I have published sketched illustrations! Also, don’t forget about sound: audio recordings can be incredible and unexpected.
Always find a way to capture the moment rather than miss it because your latest greatest camera has a dead battery. Whatever data and images you get (no matter their quality) can help your storytelling.
Move around and get intimate
I warn new photographers about a mistake I make too often: settling in one spot and capturing an animal at a singular angle. If you move, you might discover a better angle or a pending interaction that was hidden from your lens—like a nearby predator stalking your subject. Using a wide angle also helps capture the subject in the context of its environment.
It’s also important to get eye-to-eye with the animals. Macro lenses are helpful for these intimate shots, allowing animals’ personalities to come through.
Using GoPros and other action cameras
The beauty of a GoPro is that I don’t have to be there to use it. When I go out on a dive, I often bring a number of them and place them strategically in spots where I suspect some action might happen. Then I set them to record video or take timed photos.
Using a smartphone
I take two iPhones with me on each assignment: one is my working phone, the other is my working camera. I use the two separately, so I can treat one smartphone as a camera, without risking losing the device I need to text, call, use the internet, etc. In a world hungry for vertical video, your iPhone is a priceless asset. I take photographs on these devices in RAW file format and shoot video at 4K resolution.
I carry a smartphone tripod for time lapses and find it useful for slow motion capture.
You can buy housing for your smartphone that will allow you to work underwater to a limited depth–but be prepared for the housing to fail. Eventually everything floods because water finds a way.
Last but not least, back up your data as soon as you can. Good shooting.
