Recommend me a Digital u/w Photo Instructor

[Whale Shark]

Originally Posted by Mike Ward

FWIW, most of the questions posted on here (And on other forums) come from a basic lack of understanding about how cameras work, what they can do and how to use them properly. It's stuff that's been unchanged since the first camera was invented, and is as applicable to digital as it was to film, and it makes up the basic tool-box of all photographers. It's simple stuff to teach and learn, and can be done in a day or two.

When you've got the basic technique sorted, then you can experiment and try to develop a recognisable style of your own, that's what moves photography on from being a simple memory-jogging snapshot of events and into something approaching art.

Oh, and the actual camera you use is pretty much irrelevant...

But surely there must be some differences. Otherwise, why would there be so many models of compacts and SLRs in the market? If there are no differences, then surely by now people would have realised that and just buy the cheapest ones on the market. Having said that, I am still completely ignorant when it comes to cameras

[Mike Ward]

Sure, there are differences between cameras, but all of them produce photographs.

If you were handed half a dozen photographs taken on different cameras you would not be able to tell by looking at the pictures which camera had been used to take which shot, or even which had been taken on cheap or expensive cameras, though if you were handed the cameras you'd find one rather easier and more pleasant to use than the others.

You might be able to tell pictures taken, for example, with a very small digital sensor (Compact) from those taken with larger one (SLR), or a picture taken with an SLR using a cheap lens from one using a much more expensive lens, but only if you were given two pictures, one from each, and could compare them side by side, and only then if the pictures were printed large enough.

Think of it like this. As Cussy says, the camera is a tool, no more, no less. If you want to drill a hole in the wall there are endless tools on the market which will allow you to do so. Some of them very cheap, some very expensive, and lots in the middle. There will be models with all sorts of fancy features to make the process easier or quicker or more convenient. But at the end of the process you have a hole in the wall. Who cares how you made it?

[BJ]

I remember as a young man having a stupendous DIY toolkit. I then took on a job (a roof extension) that was too much for me so I called in a professional. He turned up with merely a hammer, a saw and a screwdriver - plus the skill to do the job!

I am still doing very nice conversions from RAW files I shot with the S2 Pro kit I had before I upgraded to a camera through the viewfinder of which I could actually see!

As for the half million pictures I have on film in my drawers, the simple skills I have developed with a good scanner and Photoshop means that many more of them are now useable!

[Tim Ingmire]

Originally Posted by Mike Ward

Think of it like this. As Cussy says, the camera is a tool, no more, no less. If you want to drill a hole in the wall there are endless tools on the market which will allow you to do so. Some of them very cheap, some very expensive, and lots in the middle. There will be models with all sorts of fancy features to make the process easier or quicker or more convenient. But at the end of the process you have a hole in the wall. Who cares how you made it?

Spot on Mike!

For what it's worth, if you don't fully understand the camera, get lessons, book or a dive from somebody before worrying about a course for UWP - don't do a UWP course to learn the camera basics - that's a total waste of money. Also there are absolutely shed loads of tutorials on the web - try youtube for video tutorials....

Once you have the basics then get it into a housing and have a play - try and do it on land first - get used to the controls, take pictures in a slightly darkened room or your favourite teddy or flowers or something.

That done get into the water / pool (whatever) , sit on the bottom in the shallows and play again - take a garden gnome if have nothing else to shoot and just play and play and play.

Then take it for a proper dive, snapping at whatever you like.

Critically review your photos - with Martins book in your hand if it helps and try and work out how the photo's might be improved - are you close enough, are you shooting upwards rather than down, are you shooting landscape and portrait etc etc.

Then try again in the water.

If you are having no success and you can't get more info from friends etc, then it's time for a course. This is true no matter what stage of your photography you are at - remember even pros take courses.

All the above will not take long - you could do the above in a weekend - less if you pick it up quickly.


Also, there are lots of forums for UWP on the web - use them and ask for help.

[Cussy]

I've just got home after spending the day at the NEC to see the British Underwater Image Festival. In BUIF there was a category for compact-only photos and the entries were absolutely phenominal. In summing this category up, Alex Mustard commented that the gap between SLR and compact is rapidly closing. I would suggest that most people wouldn't believe that the winners were actually taken on compacts. The photo that came third was taken by Trevor Rees. Knowing him, he would have learnt every single limitation of his kit and then stuck within the limitations. You then end up with competition winning shots from a compact.

The rules are quite simple and most of them can be mastered without even being in the water (the darkened room approach Tim mentioned). If you then master things out of the water, it makes things in the water that much easier. I would suggest that every underwater photography regularly practices - I took nearly 1000 pure practice shots last year and take approaching 10,000 shots a year topside.
Rob

[dct]

Thanks to all whom have responded, many good ideas.

Something is being arranged now with Mike Ward, so YD has proved helpful, thank-you all.

Daniel.

[Fiona]

When I was thinking of a course I looked at Alan James Photography

[whacky]

I think something that gets overlooked when talking photography is diving with fellow photographers. It's something I don't do as much as I'd like and I am sure reviewing my shots with a photographer then doing the dive all over again with the discussion in mind would help me.