When I deliver my underwater lectures there are often scuba divers in the audience & the question I get asked most (usually after the lecture) is about lighting underwater. This is because I make a big thing about it in the lectures - for me it is one of the most important factors in capturing a good image, underwater or surface.

So, whilst I realise this article is irrelevant to most folk it does give me somewhere to point divers for my thoughts.

There is no doubt that a “eureka moment” in my development as an underwater photographer was the realisation that, in the face of all the other competing demands (diving issues, camera settings, composition) I had relegated lighting to the "sorted" list i.e. just apply lots of even light & you're bound to get an image! This is of course true & should be the starting point... but with thought you can get so much more.

After I decide a subject is worthy of the time (a big decision because I often take 10 minutes or more on a subject & a dive only lasts 60 minutes, so it had better be worth it) my mental lighting checklist is;

1. always shoot up towards the surface if possible. It makes your subject more dramatic & the view of the surface is both beautiful & orientates your viewer

2. make sure your viewer sees enough of the background to appreciate the underwater scene. There are exceptions of course, but for me this is true 95% of the time

3. whilst observing the direction of the ambient light (sun position) & emphasising this with your flash - be subtle. Over lighting is a dead giveaway, as are flash shadows. It destroys the ambience - your viewer should have no idea you have lit it artificially

4. try to light along the subject - this provides subtle shadows which emphasise contours & bring out a 3D effect

5. following on from the last point do not have the flashes on the same power setting. Real life is hardly ever like that - one side is more in shadow

6. constantly keep moving the flash position & your position. Digital images are free - take lots! I do this in the hope one will be good :-)

I've never formally written this list down before & I could go on. Suffice to say I now pay more attention to lighting than anything else... & the day I started doing this I think my images improved.