Underwater Photography Tips: Shooting Fish Portraits

Nail a great shot with stationary subjects like this lionfish (© Paul Colley)

Don't Play Hide-And-Seek
Underwater shutterbugs love to photograph rare, shy or inaccessible subjects, but it is difficult — and sometimes impossible — to get quality images. A good photographer makes life easier by choosing the right subjects. A great image of a common underwater fish always beats a mediocre photo of a rare one.

Make Friends with the Fish
Photograph subject that are easy to approach. Avoid skittish critters, fish or marine mammals. Subjects that cooperate, are stationary or move slowly are good choices: slow-moving fish, soft corals, shipwrecks and divers, for example. If you want to photograph a rare creature, book a trip dedicated to finding it.

Find the Ideal Spot
Shoot in shallow water — it’s good for natural light, and you’ll have more bottom time. Make sure your subject is accessible with a good background. Test and adjust your camera settings and artificial-light sources. Try different viewpoints. If the subject is approachable, fill the frame with it. By getting close, you will increase both contrast and color, making your subject really pop.

Paul Colley is an award- winning underwater photographer, compact-camera instructor and author of Winning Images with Any Underwater Camera. View more of his work at mpcolley.com.

To find the latest in underwater compact cameras, visit SeaLife Underwater Cameras.

To view more underwater photography tips for your compact camera, visit our Guide to Underwater Photography.

Looking for more underwater photography tips and tricks?

Water Planet: The Art of Underwater Photography
Digital Photography Tips: How to Shoot Abstract Underwater Photography
7 Must-Haves for Underwater Photography