Framing Your Shots – Differences Underwater
Filed Under Tips & Techniques |
Some of the various framing techniques used in picture composition have already been discussed, along with reasons why one may want to use them. Here we want to look at some differences and how shooting underwater can actually make framing almost automatic.
Keep in mind that shades of blue are all the color not filtered out by the water. Add in variations in visibility and light and you get some built-in frames for many photos. In fact, eliminating these is often the larger challenge with underwater photography.
For example look below at the helm in the bridge of this sunken ship. Being inside the ship is already a low-light condition anyway, but while the flash is sufficient to illuminate the helm in the foreground, it’s not powerful enough to light up much of the remaining bridge structure to the rear. You get a great frame plus a little mystique about the rest of the bridge. (photo credit: Paulo Calluf)
Something to keep in mind here is if your frame actually blocks something from view it can arouse viewers curiousity about whatever it is they can’t see. Also, creating a fuzzy or blurred frame can do the same thing, and the latter can be used to create depth or different moods as well. But with all these type techniques be careful you don’t end up drawing viewers away from your subject.
Below is another instance where the water absorbs the flash after a few feet leaving the deck gun and other background in shades of blue. Notice too that not filling the frame with the bottle and jar allow the viewer to get some context.
(photo credit: alfred_bham)
Th next image shows some ammunition being framed with the top of the barrel. The viewer sees not only some context but it also demonstrates containment or organization for the subject. You get the ammo, plus what it was stored in, along with just a bit of the remaining deck structure. (photo credit: jcator)
In this last photo, the frame used is an actual window. By showing the subject within this viewport on a sunken Betty bomber, he is not only nicely framed, but provides context in showing the size of the port itself. (photo credit: tropical pete)
Photo location: Truk Lagoon
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